Over one hundred years ago, a Greek immigrant rode a train from New York and disembarked in the Piney Woods region of Mississippi. He knew not a soul and had few pennies to his name. What he lacked in money, he more than made up with his work-ethic and pursuit of the American dream. There, by the railroad track train stop in Hattiesburg and under a shade tree, he opened a pushcart fruit stand. He toiled day after day selling fruit and produce to the locals and over time, he saved enough money to build an open front fruit stand. Later, when a grocery store opened nearby, he changed his business to a short order diner, selling hamburgers and hot dogs and developed a famous chili topping recipe using an old copper pot from his homeland. This earnest entrepreneur thrived in the restaurant business and raised his family in their new Mississippi home.
After many years of the daily grind, the founder’s son took over the business. Through many more decades of tireless work, a grandson and then a great grandson had assumed the helm and managed the cafe. Four generations of the family branched into dozens of relatives, many living in and around Hattiesburg.
The influence and impact of this one man touched thousands of people. I am one of them. My neighbor is a retired physician from the family, one of the first people to reach out to me when my oldest son was gravely ill. He prayed for his well-being and offered words of sympathy and encouragement in difficult times. I had the privilege to coach two siblings in Dixie Youth baseball who are relatives of the humble fruit vendor. The oldest child, a girl, was the best player on my team, and her brother could hit any ball thrown near the plate. Their father is kind, generous, and always asks about my family with genuine concern and interest.
I know that this man’s story of business success and perseverance has been told before, but I am most enthralled by the truth that one man can bear immeasurable fruit over years, decades, and even centuries. Yes, Arthur Fokakis founded Coney Island Cafe on Main Street in Hattiesburg. He beget Junior, who beget Billy, who beget B.J. But, when you add brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and the entire flowing abundant tree of life, one must marvel at the power of humanity to exponentially spread goodwill in this world.
The fruit sold in 1923 by one man bore incalculable fruit over a century, including my neighbor Arthur Fokakis M.D. and my friend Mike Fokakis and his children, Sophia and Nick. The Gospel of Matthew contains a parable about a good tree bearing good fruit and that persons will be known by their fruit. If the fruit-selling patriarch could see his fruit bearing lineage today, I imagine through tears of joy he would invite his extended family to pack the little cafe on Main for good food and warm fellowship. To you Mr. Fokakis, I say, “Well done, sir.”
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Clark Hicks is a lawyer who lives in Hattiesburg. His email is clark@hicksattorneys.com.
