Cowlitz-Pierce-Skagit County WA Archives Biographies.....Costacos, Gus December 13, 1892 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com  May 9, 2009, 12:55 am

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     GUS COSTACOS.  Among the energetic, progressive and successful business 
men of Longview, Washington, stands Gus Costacos, whose restaurant, the Lotus 
Cafe on Commerce street, is the leading establishment of its kind here and 
enjoys a marked popularity. Mr. Costacos was born at Levadia, Greece, on the 
13th of December, 1892, and is a son of George and Kalliope (Ragos) Costacos, 
both of whom are still living in that country. His father who is now engaged 
in a general mercantile business and is the owner of a farm, spent seven years 
of active service in the Greek army, during which period he fought in the war 
against the Turks in 1886.

     Gus Costacos attended the public schools of his native country, 
graduating from high school, and in 1906 came to the United States with his 
brothers, Thomas and Aristole, the latter of whom subsequently returned to 
Greece. Thomas Costacos, who lived at Anchorage, Alaska, was a soldier in the 
World war, and died in 1922, while on a trip to Greece. At Vancouver, British 
Columbia, he married Miss Effie Bernice, also a native of Greece, and they 
became the parents of a daughter, Kalliope, who is now with her mother on the 
family estate in Greece.

     Gus Costacos was about fifteen years old when he arrived at New York 
city, and his first effort to earn a livelihood was as a newsboy. He remained 
in that city until 1907, when he came to Tacoma, Washington, where he found 
employment in sawmills.  In 1915 he went to Anchorage, Alaska, and engaged in 
the restaurant business for two years, at the end of which time he volunteered 
for service in the World war, joining Company C, First Battalion, Fourteenth 
Infantry Regiment, March 18, 1918. Shortly afterward he was injured while 
crossing Valdez bay with a dog team and was sent to Fort Liscum. From there he 
went by the transport "Sherman" to San Francisco, remaining at the Presidio 
for some time. He was next transferred to Camp Dodge, Iowa, and after the 
armistice was sent to Camp Grant, Illinois, to guard conscientious objectors. 
He was then sent to Camp Lewis, Washington, where he received an honorable 
discharge March 15, 1919.

     On leaving the army, Mr. Costacos located in Mount Vernon, Washington, 
where he opened a restaurant which he conducted until 1922. In that year he 
went to Kelso where he established the finest restaurant in the town, 
continuing its operation until he sold the same in 1927. In the meantime, in 
1924, he had entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law, the late 
James A. Spencer, and erected a two-story brick building on Commerce street, 
in the city of Longview, in which in the same year they opened the Lotus Cafe, 
the largest and best equipped restaurant in the city. Spencer died December 6, 
1927, and his widow is now Mr. Costacos's partner. They give a high type of 
service, paying close attention to the tastes and comfort of their patrons and 
are meeting with well merited success. Mr. Costacos also owns three dance 
halls in association with Frank Vaughn, the orchestra director, and is one-
third owner of Neon Products, Inc., which manufactures Neon gas light signs, 
having a factory in Longview.

     On November 27, 1921, in Seattle, Washington, Mr. Costacos was united in 
marriage to Miss Marianthe Spencer, who was born at Argostoli, Cephalonia, 
Greece, and came to the United States in 1919. She is a daughter of Alexander 
and Eugenia Spencer, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Spencer came to this 
country in 1914 and died at Kelso, Washington, in 1927, at the age of seventy-
one years. Mr. and Mrs. Costacos have two children: George, born August 19, 
1922; and Jerry, born August 28, 1926.

     Mr. Costacos is inclined to be independent in his political attitude, 
though leaning to the republican party. He is a member of Guy Rathbun Post, 
American Legion, of which he was post commander in 1926; the Benevolent 
Protective Order of Elks and the Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife are 
earnest members of the Greek Orthodox church. Mr. Costacos has in every 
respect proven loyal to his adopted country, giving his earnest support to its 
institution, and, because of his splendid personal qualities and his honorable 
business methods, he commands the genuine respect of all who come in contact 
with him. 


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 668-669

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