BAR: FUNKY BUDDHA LOUNGE
Funky Buddha Lounge is part of Regas Christou’s nightclub empire — though it’s more like a traditional bar/restaurant than his megaclubs. It’s dark downstairs but bright on the rooftop patio. His sister Ava cooks Greek food for the eclectic crowd, house music blares from the sound system. The staff is tatted out, friendly. Open Tuesday through Saturday, Buddha holds about 300; it’s often packed.
GRILLED: REGAS CHRISTOU
Regas Christou, 57, heads up a consortium of family-owned Denver nightclubs, bars and restaurants that include Funky Buddha, The Church, Bar Standard, 2 a.m., City Hall, The Living Room and Fidel Cantina. He is often in court as he battles the city over ordinances, licenses and infractions. He was born and raised in Cyprus and moved to Connecticut for college in 1968. After a stint with a difficult host family, he went on to get a master’s degree in political science from Long Island University. He came to the University of Denver in 1976 and where he earned a master’s degree in international relations. He opened his first club, Regas Mediterranean Cafe, in August 1982. Regas thought Denver needed belly dancing. It soon became Regas (Jazz) Cafe, then the Deadbeat Club. He and his partner, Melissa, have two boys, Roman, 2, and Nico, 6. They live in Observatory Park. We sit on the rooftop patio. He orders an Amstel Light.
BH: Amstel Light?
Christou: I don’t drink much. I used to drink Grand Marnier.
BH: A lot of club owners drink a lot.
Christou: I have never done that. To stay in this business this long, you have to keep your nose clean and lead a healthy lifestyle.
BH: Family has always been important to you.
Christou: The older you get, the more you appreciate family. Family is everything to me.
BH: Your mother lived here until she died 10 years ago?
Christou: She came here in 1978 to see me graduate from DU. And she stayed. Half my world went away when my mother died. She raised a family of six by herself. She is the powerhouse of my life.
BH: Are you religious?
Christou: I am spiritual.
BH: Why did you start Regas Mediterranean Cafe?
Christou: I looked at it as a way to get my family together. After the war in Cyprus in 1974, everybody split up to different parts of the world.
BH: Did you think you were taking a big chance, opening an ethnic restaurant with belly dancing?
Christou: Sometimes the things you don’t know are the things that support you. If I knew then what I know now, I never would have gone into this business.
BH: You had no idea that you would end up with a Denver nightclub empire?
Christou: I didn’t think in the long term. I just needed to survive and get my family together.
BH: I think of you and the movie “Apollo 13” sometimes. The line, “Failure is not an option.”
Christou: You’re right. If something doesn’t work, you make it work.
BH: Your clubs are for young people. How do you stay in touch with them?
Christou: You have to surround yourself with people who know the scene.
BH: You understand the scene?
Christou: Of course.
BH: How do you think you’ve been treated by the people of Denver?
Christou: Awesome.
BH: How have you been treated by the press?
Christou: There are two sides to every story, and the press should print the two stories. And if one side doesn’t want to be part of the story, the press doesn’t have a right to publish just one side. I don’t have to defend myself against something somebody said. I don’t want to do that. You want to start with a clean slate, I am happy to talk to you.
BH: Music?
Christou: Music is the answer.
BH: Movies?
Christou: “Slumdog Millionaire,” baby. That’s my life story, some of it anyway.
BH: Books?
Christou: I just reread “The Fountainhead,” by Ayn Rand.
BH: A lot of people don’t like Ayn Rand.
Christou: I don’t care. And I just read “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.”
BH: Do you dance?
Christou: Of course I dance. When nobody is watching.
BH: Favorite virtue?
Christou: Integrity.
BH: What’s your most marked characteristic?
Christou: I am stubborn. I never give up, especially when I’m right.
BH: We always laugh about how much you have paid your lawyers, Dill and Dill, over the years.
Christou: You’re right about that. But I’m a good client, too. They’re not defending Al Capone. They’re defending an innocent man all the time. Can you imagine this town without any nightclubs? We are a huge asset to this city.
BH: What’s your dream of happiness?
Christou: Being on the beach with my kids and (Melissa) and just hanging out.
BH: You’ve talked about returning to Cyprus and opening a club there.
Christou: That’s not what it’s all about now. I’d like to slow down a little bit.
BH: What’s your idea of complete misery?
Christou: Not to have any friends.
BH: What do you hate?
Christou: Liars.
BH: What do you most admire in a woman?
Christou: Beauty and truthfulness.
BH: Restaurants?
Christou: My favorite is Cafe Brazil. My sister Ava’s cooking is the best. And I like Vesta and Sushi Den.
BH: What do you love about Denver?
Christou: The things I love about this city have nothing to do with the government. I love the weather, the mountains, the people. Everybody is from somewhere else.
BH: When will you stop opening clubs?
Christou: It’s a character flaw. I like to open new things. I don’t know when to stop.
BH: What do you drive?
Christou: A Harley and my car.
BH: Do you wear a helmet?
Christou: No.
BH: Regas! You have children.
Christou: It’s stupid. I know.
BH: What kind of car?
Christou: It’s an Escalade. It’s embarrassing.
BH: How do you live your day?
Christou: I go to work at 7:30 every morning, I go home at 5:30 in the afternoon. I always have dinner with my kids. Sometimes I go back out around 10. Sometimes I stay home. It’s nice.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Bill Husted: 303-954-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com.
