'Uncle Nick' of Nick's 22nd Street in Shelby Township Dies In SD Car Crash

The community is mourning the loss of Nikolaos Andreopoulos, the owner of Nick's 22nd Street Steak House in Shelby Township.

For nearly 20 years, "Uncle Nick", as Andreopoulos was referred to, has greeted residents at his restaurant with his warm smile.

"He was very friendly with people. He was a very outgoing guy," said Andreopoulos' son, Harry.

Andreopoulos, along with three of his friends from Macomb County were killed in a crash Wednesday in South Dakota early Wednesday morning when the vehicle they were traveling in collided with a semi-truck.

The victims are driver Wesley Allen Frasard, 71, Ledger John Frasard Jr., 68,  William Edward Petrocy, 77, all of St. Clair Shores, and Andreopoulos, who lived in New Baltimore.

Thomas Edward Thorngate, 52, of St. Clair Shores was seriously injured and remains at Aberdeen, S.D., hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The four friends were in South Dakota for a hunting trip, according to Andreopoulos' family.

Funeral details have not been sorted yet as the family awaits for Andreopoulos' body to return from South Dakota. However, the family said they have secured the EJ Madziuk and Sons Funeral Home on 18 and Ryan.

"The amount of phone calls from friends and acquaintances has been unbelievable," said Bill Andreopoulos. "I never realized how many people my dad’s life touched."

The restaurant remains open and under the leadership of Andrepolous' sons, Harry, Bill and George.

Nick Andreopoulos leaves behind his sons, daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren and wife, Eleni.

"We couldn’t be more proud of him," said Bill Andrepolous. "He was everything to us and has been a great dad."

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