Year of birth:1954
Profession: Entrepreneur
Place of Origin: Istanbul, Turkey, Asia Minor
Place of Residence: Athens, Central Greece.
Paul Rubis Zinzalias, son of Zare (Lazarus) and Lina was born in Istanbul on July 25, 1954. He is the owner of RUBY’S GRUPPO, a group of 8 companies with diverse business activities. He has been married to Charikleia Miliadi since 1980 and has a son, Paul Jr.
Paul’s grandfather, Zinzalian Sarkis (Sergios), of Armenian descent, was born in Eastern Asia Minor (Egin). In 1900, when Greeks and Armenians in the area were being massacred,his wife Chatem, despite being shot in the leg and upper arm, fled to the mountains with her child in her arms . After enduring many hardships, she managed to reunite with her husband who at the time was in Istanbul
on business.
Grandmother Chatem had her first child in Egin. The other six were born in Istanbul where the family eventually settled down. The names of the six children were Leon, George (who immigrated to America) Aram (who studied in Bulgaria and finally remained there), Artaki who stayed in
Instanbul), Anousia and Sirarpi (they too stayed in Instanbul) and Zare (short for Lazaros),the biographee’s father. Most family members perished during the 1902 massacre mentioned above. Those who survived, dispersed , heading to countries such as Lebanon, Russia and America.
The biographee’s father , Zare Zinzalias, was born in Istanbul in 1914. He graduated from the College in Istanbul and initially took up accounting. One day Zare’s brother George, a chemical engineer who had moved to the United States of America, in an effort to guide him in his career, sent him some paint samples. Zare then used them to produce dry paint to dye suede leather. For 40 years he was the only paint manufacturer in Turkey who knew this specific technique. Zare Zinzalias married Lina Kasapoglou.
They had three children: Hilda, Paul-Roubi and Sergio. Zare was particularly hard working, serious and exemplary family man who sacrificed his personal life to cater to the needs of his family. He died at the age of 73 in Athens. The biographee’s mother, Lina Kasapoglou, was born in Istanbul in 1923. She finished the Zappeion Greek Girl’s School in Istanbul. After getting married, she devoted herself entirely to her family and three children. She was very hospitable and open, giving her heart and soul to her children and grandchildren, Lina and Zare were very close as a couple. Lina died in Athens in 1987 at the age of 63 and Zare died only 45 days later.
Lina Kasapoglou ‘s father was called Bondos (short for Prodromos) Kasapoglou . He was a Romios (Rum) from Ikonio, Asia Minor and a merchant. Lina and her husband had two more children: Penelope (the biographee’s favourite aunt) and Nikos, who had gone to Greece for the Balkan Wars where he lost his life. They were Karamanlides in origin and well- known traders in the area. Her mother was called Marioli and also originated from Cappadocia, the place where Lina met her future husband. When the purges against the Greeks began in 1922, the couple left the area and managed to reach Istanbul. The biographee was born in Istanbul in 1954. He studied at Lycee de Galataseray, a French School on a par with the Phanar Greek Orthodox College(known in Greek as the Great School of the Nation). Lycee de Galataseray boasts a 500-year old history;
it is a school with a rich tradition with Turkish politicians and Prime Ministers having graduated and still graduating from its ranks. Paul-Roubi’s two siblings also went to French schools. Hilda, after completing her studies in higher education, married Aristomenis Akiskalos and moved to Thessaloniki. She has two children, Theodoros and Christina. Sergio followed his brother to Athens, got married to Miranda Pauletits and has two children, Natalie and Phillipos.
Even though the biographee had decided to study Medicine and become a
gynaecologist, he realized that he didn’t want to be financially dependent
on his father during his student years which would have been exceedingly
long and decided to become an entrepreneur instead, a profession which
appealed to him. Initially, as he was fluent in seven languages: Greek,
Turkish, French, Armenian, Italian and Spanish, he sold tourist products.
He then switched to clothes design, producing under contract cotton
garments based on Byzantine and Ottoman museum copies. At the age of
22 he went to Europe and received so many orders for his clothes that he
just couldn’t meet demand because the technical capacity in Turkey at the
time was insufficient. He did his army service in Turkey in 1975 so as not to
lose his inheritance rights. After completing his army service , he opened
up a clothes boutique and a company exporting traditional garments. In
1979 there was political turmoil in Istanbul. Fearing that the Greeks would
again be targeted, he decided to move to Greece permanently and gifted
his share of the company to his partner. In Athens he started off as a
partner in a souvenir shop in Plaka, on 71 Adrianou Street. The shop was
owned by a Greek from Istanbul named Rolando Kalousas. A few years
later the shop was converted into the jewellery store ADONIS and soon all
the outstanding debts were paid off.
In 1988 he opened a second jewellery store called RUBY’S Jewels
together with his brother Sergio on 105 Adrianou Street. At the same time
they also opened a goldsmith’s workshop where they produced copies of
jewellery decorated with precious stones exhibited in Museums. In 1989
the biographee acquired a code to invest in the Stock Exchange . Since
then he has continued this investment activity with great success. What is
worth noting is that he does not invest when interest in the Stock Exchange
is high as was the case in 1999. He believes that in order to always win,
one must develop self-restraint and not be greedy, greed being a human
vice. In 1994 he founded the first Societe Anonyme GRECITAL S.A that
sold jewellery and precious stones imported from Italy and Belgium in
the wholesale market. His clients were from all over Greece, particularly
from popular tourist destinations like the Greek islands.
In 1997 he founded another wholesale company (LEATHERS ZINΖALIAS).
selling Italian leather to carpenters and car upholsterers. His new clients
ushered him into the world of cars, inspiring him to open up a luxury car
dealership in 2000. He called his company RUBY’S AUTOCENTER and
imported new and second- hand cars. In 2006, sensing the crisis would hit
the car market, he sold the company. He entered the HORECA sector
(hotels-restaurants-café) opening a new company called RUBY’S
GRECITAL, MASS CATERING EQUIPMENT & PROFESSIONAL
REFRIGERATORS considering that this particular market was in high
demand and constantly renewing itself.
ADONIS jewellery store on 71 Adrianou Street entered into a partnership
with Rolex watches in 2000. Due to this very successful and longstanding
collaboration the biographee’s company has been included in the group of
top partners and is an OFFICIAL ROLEX RETAILER .
Paul-Roubis Zinzalias personally selects the employees of his companies. He endeavours to create an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual support, boosting his employees’ self-esteem and confidence. Most employees have been working in his companies for decades.
In 1994 he hired Salomon Levi who had just come to Greece from his birth
place Belgium to work in ADONIS store. After a few years he made him his
partner because he deeply appreciated his work ethic and integrity. Best
friends and partners to this day, they continue their very successful
collaboration. The biographee sees Salomon, his partner Alexia and their
daughter Isabelle as members of his own family.
Paul-Roubis is a restless spirit. Creative and insightful, he understands
what the market needs at any given moment. He organizes his business
activities around various branches and sectors ,always reaping the
benefits. He grasps new opportunities offered by his clientele, venturing
forth into new directions. At present, he remains focused on the businesses
he has set up and manages them successfully.
A fervent supporter of Green Energy, after the 2009 crisis he entered the Solar Energy Market and founded two companies ,RUBY’S Green Powe and RUBY’S Energy.
In 2012 he opened up two food businesses (Café-Restaurants ) one inside
the Athens Christian and Byzantine Museum, the very well- known and
successful ILISSIA Café-Restaurant on 22 Vasilisis Sofias Avenue and
Ruby’s Point in Pireaus, on Skouze Street next to the Court Buildings.
Paul-Ruby Zinzalias is married to Charikleia Miliadi who was born in
Istanbul and is involved in his business activities. They have a son Paul
(born in 1994) who attended Geitonas Private School and then studied
Biomedical Sciences at UCL, England. He then did his Master’s Degree in
Neurosciences at King’s College where he now works as a Research
Coordinator in an internationally recognized group of Neurology
Researchers.
Paul-Roubis Zinzalias spends his free time on his boat LINA (named after
his beloved mother) a pastime which makes him feel happy and relaxed
and brings him close to the sea which he truly loves. He also loves reading
history books and literature, especially books about Byzantium.
As an individual he is very competent and active. He is hard working but
also enjoys having a good time with family and friends. He is creative,
always setting high goals and achieving them. He believes that in order for
a businessman to be successful, he must first make a name for himself as
being honest and good-hearted, as a man who is as good as his word. He
also believes that one must be honest and reliable, showing respect to
himself and those around him. He has helped many people who were in
need or trying to make a fresh start When some people let him down after
he has helped them, he says that you should always follow your
conscience and that life will reward you for what you do. He believes that
he has something to learn from people of all ages and always finds time to
listen to his younger employees’ opinions or remarks. This is the reason
why he is held in high regard and deeply respected by business associates
in Greece and abroad and society at large.
