Nick Holevas hit rock bottom a few years ago, losing all his money in the real-estate business, partially due to the economic downturn and part due to some poor personal decisions, he admitted.
So he started writing a book on his experiences as an investor, but he's hit the wall with his words.
"I don't know if it's fear or if it's laziness, [about completing the book, maybe] a little of both," said Holevas, who now manages a small, family-run, carry-out fast-food restaurant in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood. "I'm really glad I got to go to work for the family [business] because they did provide me with the emotional support I needed to get through the rough times, and see my mistakes from a different point of view, learn from them and start fresh."
Chicago Pita is a 900-square-foot restaurant that specializes in kebabs, gyros and beef sandwiches. "We don't have any vegan options, but we do have, in my opinion, the most delicious meat in the City of Chicago," Holevas said.
Holevas ran the 2011 Chicago Marathon, finishing in 5:46:10. He is again training for the 2012 Chicago Marathon through the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's endurance-training program, the Team To End AIDS (T2).
"I am truly excited about the training. I love going every Saturday morning [to the T2 training runs along the lakefront] to see highly motivated people doing some good for humanity.
"T2 is a win-win situation, where I get to exercise and make a small contribution to the world. I have a few friends who are HIV-positive and can't think of a better charity than this one. I am very pleased with the progress science is making for this disease and, at the same time, I will not stop until there is a cure."
His goal for the 2012 Chicago Marathon is: 5:30.
To support Holevas with his T2 fund-raising for AFC, visit www.holevas.org .
THE STATS
Age: 41
Job title: Manager, Chicago Pita
Relationship status: Dating Michael Davis
Hobbies: Running, traveling, writing
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Taxim in Wicker Park
Favorite TV show: Mad Men
Favorite movie: Terms of Endearment
Little-known fact: Fluent in three languages (Greek, French, English)
Photos courtesy Nick Holevas