BY JADA CAMILLE
The matriarch of Coney Island’s
iconic Wonder Wheel
Park will live forever, as Theodora
Lula Vourderis was honored
with the co-naming of a
local street.
Lula helped her husband,
Deno, start a hot dog pushcart
business on the boardwalk in
the 1970s, and their island cuisine
quickly gained popularity
— their cart soon became a full
snack bar where Lula worked
behind the counters for over 20
years serving guests.
The couple eventually expanded
and purchased the
park in the late 1970s, turning
it into Deno’s Wonder Wheel
Park, where four generations
of Vourderis family members
have run it ever since.
Now, the intersection of W.
12th Street and Riegelmann
Boardwalk will forever be
known as “Theodora Lula
Vourderis Way.”
According to her son Dennis,
who now co-owns the park
with his brother, Steve, their
mother leaves behind a legacy
of compassion towards the
homeless and underprivileged.
“She had a relationship
with some of the can collectors
and some of the guys that used
to come around the boardwalk
and ask for food,” said Dennis
COURIER L 16 IFE, OCT. 29-NOV. 4, 2021
Vourderis. “She remembered
her days when she had no food.
In her early years growing up
in Greece when the Nazis were
occupying Greece, she had
nothing to eat but bread and
water at times. She remembered
the tough times and
wanted to help.”
Dennis added that the tribute
is a lovely way to remember
their mother.
“It’s an honor and we’re
very proud of that. Dad’s name
is up on the other side on West
12th street so now both their
names are up which is a double
honor,” said Dennis.
Lula and her family came
from Greece and originally
had very little to start their
new life with.
“They were invaded by the
Nazi regime and they faced a
very uncertain future. She
came here with her family
with nothing, no money but
a lot of dreams for her family,”
said area Councilmember
Mark Treyger. “She built
a legacy from scratch really,
from nothing but hardwork
and determination.”
Many gathered on the boardwalk
to watch the ceremony including
Coney Island residents,
community leaders and members
of the Vourderis family.
“It was a very moving tribute
to an icon in our community,
someone who I would call
a pillar in Coney Island,” said
Treyger.
The Vourderis family plans
to preserve their matriarch’s
memory by continuing traditions
like the “Blessing of the
Rides,” where they invite children
from the Sea N Salt Mission
to enjoy a free day in the
park.
Theodora Lula Vourderis working
behind the counter of the snack
bar. The Vourderis family
Friends and family members hold up the new street sign honoring Theodora
Lula Vourderis. The Vourderis family
‘A pillar’ remembered
Coney Island icon Theodora Vourderis
honored with street co-naming
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