Wednesday, July 29, 1998 | 11:07 a.m.
Costas J. "Charlie" Zades, a co-founder of the Vineyard Restaurant at the Boulevard Mall and a regular visitor to Las Vegas for more than a quarter-century, has died. He was 72.
Zades, a longtime resident of Endicott, N.Y., was killed in a May 14 automobile accident in nearby Endwell, N.Y. However, his family just recently disclosed his death to those outside of south central New York.
Zades came to Las Vegas so frequently he decided to open several restaurants here over the years. In addition to the Vineyard, which he opened in 1976, Zades owned Tommio's Restaurant, which was at Sahara Avenue and Maryland Parkway. He also owned the Boulevard Mall's Pizza Deli and Salads Galore eateries.
"He considered Las Vegas his second home," Zades' son, James Zades of Endicott, said. "For many years, he sponsored the Meatball Festival at the Boulevard Mall which benefited Opportunity Village, a charity close to his heart."
Zades was driving his 1989 Cadillac when it crossed the center line and hit another car head-on, Endwell police said. The other driver suffered what investigators described as minor injuries. Both were taken to a hospital in nearby Johnson City following the early afternoon collision. It was there that Zades died of his injuries, police said.
Zades owned the Fountains Pavilion banquet facility in Johnson City and the Peppermill Restaurant in Endwell.
He was longtime partners with Guido Iacovelli, the son and grandson of Italian-born restaurateurs, whose recipes for dishes such as shrimp scampi and chicken cacciatore were longtime favorites at The Vineyard, along with its antipasto salad buffet.
Born in 1926, Zades was the son of Greek immigrants.
His father, James, died shortly after Zades graduated from Union-Endicott High School in the early 1940s.
During World War II, Zades served in the Army Air Corps as a B29 bombardier.
After the war, Zades attended Alfred, Butler and Syracuse universities.
Before going into the restaurant business, Zades worked as a bank auditor.
His family says he often used his businesses to support charities in New York and Las Vegas.
Zades was a member and former president of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Vestal, N.Y., where his funeral services were held.
In addition to his son, Zades is survived by his wife, Jane Zades; a daughter, Patricia Loposky and her husband, John; and his mother, Yiota Zades, all of Endicott.
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