The mere sight of the home-improvement megastore reminds Makris of the 2½ years she spent turning a former city storage unit into her dream restaurant, Spyro Gyros and Salads.

Three years ago, Makris walked past 241 N. Queen St. and fell in love with its architecture.

"I didn't see what was there, because it was completely rundown," she says. "I saw what it could be."

Makris figured she'd renovate the place in a few months.

How hard could it be?

But she soon found herself working 15- to 20-hour days.

Spyro Gyros serves Greek and vegetarian fare, along with breakfast all day. Photo Courtesy Lancaster Newspapers

"I built it myself," she says. "I did one thing at a time. It was a nightmare, but I persevered."

Last September, Makris, who grew up in the restaurant business, opened Spyro Gyros, a small, casual eatery offering authentic Mediterranean fare.

Makris modeled her first restaurant's relaxed, fun atmosphere after a Greek taverna.

"People say when they walk in, 'We don't feel like we're in Lancaster. We feel like we're on vacation,' " she says.

Makris first envisioned opening something more like a diner.

But she noticed the diverse restaurants downtown did not include Mediterranean food.

Last September, first-time restaurant owner Jacqueline Makris Spyro Gyros & Salads, a small, relaxed eatery offering authentic Mediterranean food. Photo Courtesy Lancaster Newspapers

So she decided to go Greek.

Spyro Gyros' versatile menu includes vegetarian and Greek dishes, along with homemade desserts and breakfast served all day.

Makris and her mother, Maria, do the cooking. Makris handles the vegetarian dishes and salads; her mom makes dishes from her native Greece.

When she was a child, Makris accompanied her parents to work at their Cleveland-area family restaurants. At age 9, she started busing tables, then serving diners at the counter.

"After a while, they gave me both counters," she says.

The Makris family moved to Lancaster about seven years ago.

Until recently, Maria Makris owned the Home Place Restaurant, Leola, where Jacqueline served tables and managed the dining room.

Spyro Gyros is one of few ultra-late-night options downtown. On weekends, the restaurant stays open - and even delivers food - until 4 a.m.

And yes, there are quite a few takers.

Makris says it's exciting to see a continued renaissance in downtown Lancaster, and especially on her street.

"Lancaster keeps getting better and better," she says.

"It's because of people like us (business and restaurant owners) - pioneers trying to make the city better."