GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The founder of a beloved local burger chain passed away over the weekend. Peter D. Christopoulos, the founder of Mr. Burger, passed away peacefully on Saturday, according to his obituary from Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuary.

Peter and his wife Maria opened their first Mr. Burger restaurant on Lake Michigan Drive in 1967. They operated the local chain's eight locations until 2023 when their two sons took over.

Their son Andrew spoke with 13 ON YOUR SIDE shortly after taking on the family business. He said that while him and his brother Jim took over, he didn't think his parents would ever fully retire.

The couple immigrated from Greece after World War II. Maria was on a student visa and Peter came on a sponsorship program.

13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with Peter in 2017 wh

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