Restauranteur.
Born at Skoura, Lakonia, Greece on 8 April 1944 to Athanasia (1919-2013) and Anastasios Mikos (1922-2007), he immigrated to Winnipeg with his father in January 1961. In 1967, he started working at a fast-food stand in St. Boniface, called Mrs. Mike's, that specialized in burgers. After scrimping and saving their money, the father and son were able to pay the airfare for another son, Steve Mikos, to join them in Winnipeg, and they were able a few years later to bring the remaining family.
In 1969, together with his brother Steve, he bought Mrs. Mike’s and kept the business’s name. In 1973, he returned to Greece for a visit, where he met Cathy. They married 19 days later and went on to have two children. She became a steady worker at Mrs. Mike’s once the children were grown.
The popularity of the burger joint kept growing and remained an important fixture in the community and beyond. Customers were very familiar with him. In the 45 years of working there, he never missed a day of work. The most popular menu item was the King Burger, which sometimes won top honours in Winnipeg’s Burger Week event. The place was supported by many regulars over the years, who became his friends and his community, as he served several generations of diners. Some people who were visiting the city after having moved away from Winnipeg were known to purchase as many as six King Burgers at a time, to freeze and take back home with them; some had the burgers sent to them across provincial boundaries by Fedex. Mrs. Mike’s also became a setting in a Canadian film called Society’s Child. The restaurant closed for the day but ended up providing food for the cast and crew.
He died at Winnipeg on 21 July 2012 and was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. After his death, his brother and partner retired and closed the business. During the following winter, however, Cathy Mikos decided she did not want to disappoint the customers, and missed the social life they provided. She reopened Mrs. Mike’s in the spring of 2013, and Steve resumed his role as well. In 2023, the Mikos family retired for good and the place was sold. It remained closed for several months, but sprang back to life in 2024.
Obituary [Anastasios “Ernie” Mikos], Winnipeg Free Press, 30 December 2007.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 25 July 2012.
Obituary [Athanasia Mikos], Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 2013.
“Family affair: Deep bond between Mrs. Mike’s customers, owners,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 May 2013.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 25 June 2026
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