The idea about selling fried chicken dinners developed when customers dropped in for a lunch of homemade soup and a sandwich. While eating they were intrigued by the aroma that came from the kitchen where Smilka prepared her family meals on a kerosene stove. The customers questioned what was being cooked. Smilka decided to let them taste and share the meal she had made for her family. The customers were so pleased that day on fried chicken, “djuvece” known as hot sauce, (which even today remains unduplicated), coleslaw and fried potatoes became the specialty of the house. This one entrée menu remained the same for 33 years, until 1966.
For the past forty five years the Topalsky’s son-in-law, Kosta Papich, an electrical engineer, has been President and General Manager of Belgrade Gardens, Inc. His wife, Sophia, a former teacher is the daughter of the original owner the late Mike and Smilka Topalsky.
Through the efforts and foresight of Mr. & Mrs. Papich, Belgrade Gardens has grown from that small farmhouse restaurant surrounded by the big lawn, trees, and flower beds to its present size. The expanded farmhouse now seats 350 people. Belgrade Gardens reputation as a Barberton Landmark and fine eating establishment is known the world over.
In the January 1991, the Belgrade family opened another location between Akron and Canton which is called Belgrade Gardens South. Milos Papich, son of the owner, joined the operation as a manager of the operation.

Through the years, Belgrade's has been featured in many newspaper and magazine articles such as “The Ohio”, “Northern Ohio Live”, and “Inc.” In November 1980 the program, P.M. Magazine, did a story on Belgrade which appeared on television on channel 8, the local Cleveland station. Belgrade's was also featured on the Del Donahue TV Show in April 1992. On July 15, 1990 the Akron Beacon Journal published the results of survey which voted Belgrade Gardens the number one chicken restaurant in Northeast Ohio.
Celebrities too have dined at Belgrades over the years. Actress and television star, JoAnn Worley, who appeared on Laugh-In, football star, Larry Csonka, movie star, Ruth Roman, Bo Schembechler the football coach for the University of Michigan, Senator George Voinovich of Ohio, the past Governor of Ohio Robert Taft, plus many others.
Seventy five years of loving service and making friends . . . people have come back again and again and have told their families and friends about the food they enjoyed at Belgrades. Our satisfied customers have spread our reputation around the world, even though, we have stayed in one spot.
Belgrades dinners and hot sauce have been sent (via air) to all parts of this country as well as to other countries. It has been sent to Florida, California, Texas, Washington State, Hawaii and Alaska. During the war years, our chicken was even sent to Vietnam.
Today, Belgrades is serving the children and grandchildren of some of our first customers. The Belgrade family has enjoyed many rewarding years of making our customers happy by doing something better than anyone thought could be done.

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Topalsky for the great idea!

P.S. Belgrades was listed as one of ten best chicken restaurants in the U.S.A.
List in USA Today, September 2003 issue.