‘A devastating day’: Winnipeggers remember restaurant owner one year after fatal assault

Dozens gathered at Cork and Flame, a restaurant on Portage Avenue, to remember slain restaurant owner Kyriakos Vogiatzakis on Jan. 24, 2025. (Glenn Pismenny/CTV News Winnipeg)

Dozens of community members gathered in the parking of lot of a Portage Avenue restaurant Friday night to mark a somber anniversary.

On Jan. 24, 2024, Cork and Flame owner Kyriakos Vogiatzakis was involved in a violent altercation outside his restaurant. The 51-year-old was taken to hospital in critical condition where he died from his injuries.

One year later, Vogiatzakis’ loved ones gathered in the same spot to remember the lasting impact the businessman left behind.

“Today’s a devastating day,” said Vogiatzakis’ brother, Mike. “It’s like somebody just put a knife in my heart and they’re trying to pull it out right now.”

Since his brother’s death, Mike has been advocating for changes to the justice system and strengthening community safety measures.

“Why am I standing up? First of all, I’m standing up to do this in my brother’s memory because I don’t want my brother’s life to go to waste for no reason,” Mike said. “He fought hard for this community. He loved people, he fed people, he took care of people. He wasn’t an angry man, he was a loving man, and I want that legacy to live on.”

In Jan. 2024, a 38-year-old man was charged with manslaughter and uttering threats in relation to Vogiatzakis’ death. The charges haven’t been tested in court.