Leon Vlahos

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Leon Chris Vlahos (born January 9, 1935 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died July 9, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee) was the founder of Pralines by Leon in Nashville.

Leon was the grandson of Constantine Vlahos and moved with the family from New Orleans to Birmingham in 1940. He began working at the family's Mary Ball Candies from the age of seven and was taught the recipes from his great uncles. He played football at Shades Valley High School and graduated in 1953.

When the Vlahos family sold Mary Ball Candies in 1955 he went into the dry cleaning business. He operated Zee's Candies in Mountain Brook in 1962, but later moved to Tennessee with his wife, Myrna. The couple had five children: Chris, Christy, Cleo, Stephanie and Courtney.

In 1988 Leon and Myrna Vlahos founded "Pralines by Leon" in Nashville. The shop moved to a prominent downtown location in 1994.

Vlahos died in 2008. His funeral was held at Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral and he was buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

References

  • "Leon Chris Vlahos" obituary (July 12, 2008) The Tennessean
  • Hudson, Mandy (2001) "Nashville's Candy Man." Tennessee Living insert, Southern Living