04 / Our Story
The man behind the counter.
Chris Menexas came up in New York’s first gyro wave, then brought his recipes to East Fordham Road in the mid-1970s, a block of students, commuters and shoppers coming up out of the 4 train. The Daily News found him loading the window rotisseries in 2013. When EL PAÍS stopped by in 2025, he was 83 and still working the counter every day. The meat is still stacked and shaved off the spit to order. The corner stayed the same.
- 1971The boomThe New York Times reports more than 30 Greek gyro shops opening in Manhattan in a single year.
- Mid-’70sFordham RoadChris opens Gyro King at 50 East Fordham Road, at Walton Avenue, steps from the 4 train.
- 2013The Daily NewsA subway-stop food column rides the 4 line up to the window rotisseries.
- TodayStill carvingAt 83, Chris still works every day. Gyros, pizza, kebabs and hot dogs from the same counter.
