THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022 Page 3 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ The Continental Restaurant owner Paul Kourkoulis explains how a Hollywood fi lming crew and cast of actors picked his family’s 70-year-old eatery to shoot scenes for an upcoming movie Editor’s Note: It’s not every day that a cast of Hollywood actors and a fi lming crew and support staff visit a Saugus restaurant to shoot scenes for an upcoming movie. But that rarity happened this week when The Continental Restaurant noted on its digital sign that it would be closed from Feb. 22 (Tuesday) through 4 p.m. yesterday (Thursday, Feb. 24) for fi lming of the movie “The Holdovers.” So, how did this all come about? While the cast and film crew were shooting some movie scenes on February 23, Paul Kourkoulis agreed to sit down with us in an area coff ee shop for a half hour interview to answer questions about the experience of renting out his restaurant for a Hollywood movie scene. His father, Athas, bought the restaurant in 1983. Paul, 57, of Middleton, took over as the principal owner and president of Continental RECRUITED BY THE MOVIE INDUSTRY: Paul Kourkoulis, owner of The Continental Restaurant on Route 1 North in Saugus, says Miramax, which acquired the rights to the upcoming movie “The Holdovers,” approached him late last year with interest in using his restaurant to fi lm a movie scene. Kourkoulis shared his experience with The Saugus Advocate this week during an interview in a Middleton coff ee shop. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Restaurant of Saugus, Inc. more than two decades ago. His dad, though retired, continues to be an offi cer of the corporation. “I’ve been in the restaurant business my whole life,” Paul says. “My dad put me on a milk A TRAFFIC STOPPER: Traffi c was sluggish and slow on Route 1 North most of Wednesday (Feb. 23) as curious drivers passing by The Continental Restaurant craned their necks out the windows of their cars to see why the restaurant parking lot was full of cars and trucks. A police detail was stationed at the site as a Hollywood cast and fi lming crew worked inside the restaurant for the upcoming movie “The Holdovers.” In this photo, staff prepares food for the cast and crew on a food trailer in the parking lot. A production trailer is parked nearby. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) crate when I was 10 and said, ‘Start doing the dishes.’” Paul grew up in Vermont and graduated from Essex Junction High School in 1983. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Providence College (1988) and received his Juris Doctor from New England Law School in Boston (1991). He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in December of 1991 and his status as a Saugus attorney remains active. Highlights of this week’s interview follow: Q: So, how did this all come about? Did you get contacted, or did you have to put in for it, saying that you were interested? ASKS | SEE PAGE 6
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