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“I’m trying to make something out of nothing.”

That is the challenge of long time Tullahoma area restaurateur Matthew Sfirakis. His newest restaurant, Hap’s Eatery, is located inside AEDC gates. The restaurant’s sales have been greatly reduced due to the Federal government shutdown and so few AEDC employees on site.

Sfirakis opened Hap’s Eatery six months ago. He has ten employees.

Because Sfirakis and his employees are not government or contractor employees, they are not eligible for back pay once the shutdown ends.

“Prior to the shutdown, all of our business came from people that work on the base. With this shutdown, almost everyone has been sent home which means we have no income coming in at all. So with no income coming in, it’s a struggle to pay bills”, said Mr. Sfirakis.

In 2009 Sfirakis and his family moved to Tullahoma and took over Gondola Restaurant, which his brother Chris still owns. Mr. Sfirakis worked there six years then owned Olympus Gyros in Decherd. Sfirakis has also owned T-Town Smoothie and Lulu’s in Estill Springs.

Sfirakis and his wife, Gloria, have four children.

The Federal government shutdown is affecting the Sfirakis family as well as his ten employees’ families. “The shutdown has affected us tremendously. It makes it really hard to keep us with all our bills and provide for our families. People in the political world have no idea what it is doing to us,” said Sfirakis.

True to Sfirakis’ “can do” spirit and perseverance, he is trying to make something out of nothing. He is providing family meals, catering options, take and bake options and pizzas all out of Hap’s Eatery.

Pickups are at the restaurant for those with base access or he can meet people at the Visitor Center at the Main Gate or he can possibly deliver the meals.

Sfirakis is also available to cater for church functions, office meetings and school functions.

To see meal options, go to the Hap’s Eatery Facebook page or website hapseateryrestaurant.com. Sfirakis can be reached at 727 515 2511.

Hap’s Eatery is named after General Henry “Hap” Arnold, the father of the U.S. Air Force. Arnold Engineering Development Complex is named after Arnold as well as the restaurant.