James "Jim" Geanekos

In Loving Memory of James "Jim" Geanekos (Dimitrios Athanasios Geanekos) December 20, 1930 – June 13, 2025 James "Jim" Geanekos, beloved husband, father, grandfather, Greek Army veteran, and proud founder of Jim's Coffee Shop in Alameda, passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, June 13, 2025, at the age of 94. Born Dimitrios Athanasios Geanekos in a small village in Greece, Jim's early life was marked by unimaginable trials. He lived through the Nazi occupation during World War II and survived the Greek Civil War, during which he was abducted by communist rebels who attempted to indoctrinate him. Refusing to be broken or swayed, Jim escaped and soon after served four years in the Greek military with honor and pride. In 1954, he embarked on a journey that would change everything. With nothing but $10 in his pocket, Jim arrived at Ellis Island, where his name was anglicized to James, though to everyone who knew and loved him, he was simply "Jim." He took a train across the country to California, where he joined his uncle, Georgios Geanekos, who had immigrated decades earlier in 1912. It was in his uncle's restaurant where Jim began working, and where he met the love of his life, Pearl. Jim and Pearl married in 1958 and soon poured their energy and savings into their first restaurant venture, purchasing a small San Leandro eatery called "The Little Pig." After years of hard work and sacrifice, they sold that business and, in 1960, acquired a modest four-table diner at 1523 Park Street in Alameda from a pair of retiring Greek immigrants. They named it the Alameda Coffee Shop. It quickly became a beloved local favorite, but as the family's dreams grew, so did their need for more space. In 1974, Jim and Pearl relocated and reopened the business as Jim's Coffee Shop at its now-iconic location on 2333 Lincoln Avenue. At the time, the restaurant had just six tables, and would go on to become one of the most enduring and cherished family-run institutions in Alameda. Jim, Pearl, and their son Tom were the only people who ever worked in the restaurant. It was a true family operation in every sense. Tom began helping his parents at just 12 years old, and in 1986, Jim passed the torch to him officially. Jim retired that same year, but his presence and values remained deeply rooted in the heart of the diner. ________________________________________
A Family Legacy Grown With Care After taking over the restaurant in 1986, Tom expanded Jim's Coffee Shop three times, transforming it from its humble roots into a full-service, bustling community hub. Today, the original Lincoln Avenue location proudly holds 33 tables and booths, a 14-seat counter, and serves up to 164 guests, still with the same warmth and soul Jim instilled from the beginning. In 2006, Tom extended the family legacy even further by opening a second location, Jim's on the Course, located on Bay Farm Island at the Chuck Corica Golf Complex in Alameda. The new restaurant began with 20 indoor tables, 4 bar tables, and 8 outdoor tables. Over the years, with Tom's dedication and vision, the space was expanded to include 42 outdoor tables, and serves up to 308 guests, complete with two fire pits, creating a lively and welcoming environment for locals and visitors alike. The heart of the restaurant has always been family. Today, Jim's grandsons, Dimitrios and Alexander, are both fully involved in running the family restaurants, carrying forward the values and standards instilled by their grandfather and father. Their youngest brother, Michael, is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Psychology, continuing the family legacy of hard work and dedication in his own path. To build and sustain not one, but two successful, long-standing family-owned restaurants is a remarkable achievement, a living testament to Jim's unwavering work ethic, selfless spirit, and deep love for family and community. It is a rare and beautiful legacy now carried on by his grandson Dimitrios, representing the third generation of the Geanekos family to do so. ________________________________________ Today, Jim's Coffee Shop stands as Alameda's longest continuously family-run restaurant and one of the city's oldest family-owned businesses. What began with six tables and a dream has grown into a beloved institution, serving generations of loyal patrons and families. Outside the restaurant, Jim lived a life rooted in faith, tradition, and service. He was a 33rd Degree Mason, a distinction few achieve, and an active member of the Elks Lodge and the Shriners, attending meetings regularly and holding deep pride in his involvement. In his later years, he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia at the age of 93, yet even as his memory faded, his resilience, humor, and warmth endured. Jim is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Pearl, who passed in 2007. He is lovingly survived by his son, Tom Geanekos, and Tom's devoted wife, Ana Geanekos. Jim's greatest pride and joy were his three grandsons, Dimitrios, Alexander, and Michael, who carry forward his name, his values, and his unwavering commitment to family. He is also tenderly remembered by his great-granddaughter, Ana Dimitriou Geanekos, daughter of Dimitrios, a joyful reminder of all that Jim built and passed on. ________________________________________
Services A Trisagion Liturgy will be held on Monday, June 23rd at 6:00 PM (Flowers are kindly requested by 5:00 PM) 20104 Center St, Castro Valley, CA 94546 The Funeral Service will take place on Tuesday, June 24th at 11:00 AM 20104 Center St, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery followed by the burial at 1:00 PM 26320 Mission Blvd, Hayward, California A motorcycle escort will accompany the funeral procession from the church to the cemetery in honor of Jim's life and legacy. All church services will be held at: Greek Orthodox Church of the Resurrection 20104 Center St, Castro Valley, CA 94546 ________________________________________ The Geanekos family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the Alameda community, and to all the friends, patrons, and extended family who shared in Jim's life over the years. Whether you sat at his counter, traded stories over breakfast, or simply knew him through his gentle presence, you were part of his extended family. Your support, love, and friendship meant the world to Jim. And they continue to mean everything to his family, who now carry on his legacy with the same heart, the same hands, and the same hope. May his memory be eternal.