Displaced from his native Kyrenia at the age of 24, during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 20, 1974, Christos Haritonides went on to establish his own business empire across seven countries before eventually relocating to his home country, where he still hopes that reunification under a federal state solution remains feasible.
The so-called Cyprus problem has lingered over the island of Aphrodite to this very date, yet it remains a topic rarely touched upon by international media, despite Cyprus’s popularity as a tourist destination and its status as the easternmost country of Europe.
Christos Haritonides is one of many Cypriot refugees who, bereft of the assets seized by the Turkish troops, turned to the business economy to survive. Now, with the confidence of a self-made, globally experienced businessman, he speaks to Greek Reporter about the reality of Cyprus then and now and how the traumatic experience of displacement became both a motivation and a driving force for success for his compatriots who vowed never to give up on the blessings they lost.
Forced to move on after losing a homeland and a secure future
Fifty one years have passed since the day newlywed electrical engineer graduate student Christos Haritonides, the son of a wealthy real estate businessman, spotted the fleet of Turkish warships from his beachfront villa in Lapithos. Rumors had been circulating for some time, he recalls, and now their fears were becoming reality.
“These events were all a setup. I don’t blame anyone, but I believe the invasion was pre-meditated. And they uprooted us, leaving us with no place to go,” he says.
He and his British wife of four months, whom he had met during their studies in London, left their home in a rush to save their lives, taking nothing with them. Upon reaching the “free regions,” as the Greek-Cypriot part of the island is referred to, Christos joined the Cyprus army for a few days until the couple was evacuated to the United Kingdom by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The lands and wealth that his family had once owned were now in the hands of the invaders.
“We left the island with absolutely no money, not even to buy food—penniless” he recalls.
The couple worked hard for a year, taking any job they could find, despite both being university graduates. They saved money for a new beginning elsewhere, as Christos didn’t want to remain in a country he knew had played a role in the loss of his homeland. So they decided to start over in Canada.
In 1977, Christos partnered with other Greek-Cypriot refugees to open a Greek restaurant in Canada called Greek Connection. This was his first business venture.
Uprooted Christos Haritonides of Cyprus conquering international business
Encouraged by the success of the co-owned restaurant in Canada, Christos launched his very own Greek Connection in Los Angeles in 1984. It became an instant success, evolving into a true Hollywood stars’ hangout and even became the subject of a documentary by Australia’s Channel 9.
“This restaurant was a landmark and point of reference for the entire industry; musicians, actors, producers, directors, stylists,“ Christos says with pride.
World-famous Greek-Americans, such as Telly Savvalas, James Galanos, and John Stamos, became frequent patrons, and so did other US stars, including Tom Cruise and his former wife Nicole Kidman, Eddie Murphy, Angie Dickinson, and Shirley McLane among others.
“Greek-Australian film star Costas Mandylor was not only among our patrons, but had also worked at the restaurant before rising to fame, like many Hollywood stars had in those days. We are friends now and still keep in touch,” he reveals.
Additionally, Hollywood movies and shows, such as Beverly Hills Cop and NYPD Blue, shot scenes in Greek Connection Los Angeles, and Christos even made an on-screen appearance.
Nonetheless, the ingenious young Cypriot businessman did not rest on his laurels. In the meantime, he reinvested his profits to launch additional restaurants on the famous Restaurant Row, as well as ventures in international trade, medical clinics, and real estate in Los Angeles, and a construction project in Greece, thus creating an enviable business portfolio.
While the business acumen of Cypriots is legendary, Christos attributes this quality to any people who have faced challenges similar to his.
“I believe that great businessmen come from challenged countries, like Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel,” he maintains. “My personal motivation was that I didn’t want to quit. At the time of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, I was on top of the world, set for a new and happy life. And when I lost everything, I became determined to recreate all of it.”
Christos Haritonides’ return to Cyprus and an old dream turned reality
After selling Greek Connection Los Angeles in the late 1090s, Christos relocated to Dubai, where he pioneered misting cooling systems as a representative under invitation by a Sheikh.
Meanwhile, the Greek Connection brand was re-established in Medellin, Colombia, until the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, Christos relocated to Cyprus to realize an old vision he had shared with his late father: the creation of a hotel unit.
“I love hospitality altogether, not just catering; hospitality is my strength,” he says.
Although the Turkish invasion prevented him from establishing his dream business at the time—and in the way his young self had envisioned on his favorite beach where he witnessed the arriving Turkish warships in 1974—Christos eventually brought to life his new brand, La Hacienda boutique hotel apartments, in both Limassol and Medellin.
“I now live in Cyprus for the most part,” he says with a smile. “I have lived in extreme weather climates, from Canada to Dubai. The climate here is just perfect. Official statistics show that Limassol is the sunniest city in Europe, while Cyprus has the beaches with the cleanest waters. Where else would I go?”
While some owners of seized real estate properties in the occupied areas have turned to the European Court of Justice in recent years to claim the right to sell them before a resolution is reached on the Cyprus problem, Christos hasn’t considered pursuing similar legal action.
“We wait,” is his only comment.
Christos Haritonides’ hopes of a sustainable solution for Cyprus after half a century under Turkish occupation
A large number of displaced Greek-Cypriots never saw their lost homelands and estates again after 1974. The eldest passed away while waiting for permission to return, and some of the younger generation, though allowed to cross the border into the occupied part of the island since 2008, have refused to do so. They view such a move as legitimizing the de facto state of Northern Cyprus.
Prior to 2008, citizens holding passports from the official Republic of Cyprus were forbidden from entering the occupied areas altogether. However, Christos had used his Canadian passport in 1979 to return to Lapithos and see his lost home, while he continues to visit his native region often. When is asked about whether a sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem is still feasible after the northern part of the island has been under Turkish occupation for over half a century, he mumbles an awkward “I don’t know.”
“Fifty years now, mistakes have been made by governments over old mistakes and more mistakes. I believe that the current President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, is on the right track,” he says. “However, there needs to be compromise from both sides to move forward.”
In his opinion, the reunification of the island as a federal state where the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities live harmoniously with equal rights as European citizens under a shared Cypriot nationality, is the only way out of this deadlock.
His heart and mind have not forgotten how they once lived in harmony with their Turkish-Cypriot neighbors in Lapithos, often having coffee together. During his most recent visit to the occupied areas, he was warmly welcomed by a Turkish-Cypriot who was himself displaced from Paphos during the exchange of populations following the invasion. Christos feels that, with proper education, future generations will be able to overcome the traumas and atrocities of the past.
“Still today, whenever I meet Turkish-Cypriots abroad, I see them as brothers. If it wasn’t for the intervention of third countries that triggered the events—whichever those countries may be—for their own interests, we would still be living like this,” he states.
He is aware that Turkish-Cypriots themselves feel oppressed by Turkish rule. The Turkish-Cypriot community demonstrated against Turkey’s policies on Cyprus in 2011 and most recently in May 2025.
“If the external Great Powers leave us alone, I am sure the two communities will find the way to peacefully coexist again,” he concludes as our call ends and he prepares to cross the checkpoint in Nicosia toward his beloved Lapithos once more.
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