Louie's in 1943

That man is native Spartan Louis "Louie" Zounakos, who came from Greece and started a "dog wagon" across from Risley Hall around 1918. According to family tales, he sold his mother's gin during prohibition before opening the stand.

Photo- late 1950s.

Louis Zounakos was rumored to have pushed around a cart to distribute food, and eventually bought an old ford truck to make his stops at the various fraternities and sororities throughout campus. Eventually, he became established in front of Risley Hall when, in 1947 or 1948, he bought a new truck, equipped with stainless steel counters, electrical facilities custom made in Cortland, NY and the red and white colors that have dominated the "Louie’s Lunch" dynasty. After years of service to the Cornell community, Louis Zounakos retired in 1955, a year before his death in 1956.