A gourmet Mediterranean market will open soon in the former Ginza/Aaron Gallery space at 1717 Connecticut Ave. NW. Construction should be complete by August 23, "so we hope to open by the end of September," says Niko Adamopoulos.
When Niko and his wife Oana Adamopoulos settled in D.C. in 2011, they found it lacked the independent markets prevalent in Europe. Having lived in Greece and Italy, they missed many foods and beverages they were accustomed to having. Not content to wait for change, Niko and Oana decided to open
The Mediterranean Way, a gourmet market with high-quality goods from small family-run producers.
"We envision offering hard to find Mediterranean products not readily available in supermarkets at a reasonable price," says Niko.
The Adamopoulous will carry such products as olive oils and vinegars, cheeses, meats, jams, sauces, pastas, sweets, and beverages from Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Turkey and Tunisia, as well as locally made salads and sandwiches and local produce. Additionally they will offer Mediterranean recipes and nutritional advice on the Mediterranean diet from a certified nutrition consultant.
Infused olive oils and vinegars and other foods and beverages will be available for sampling in the store."We want to offer our customers the opportunity to taste the difference in quality of Mediterranean-made products," says Niko.In July, the Adamopouloses held a food tasting in their home, which resulted in decisions to carry Manchego and Cana de Cabra cheeses from Spain, Spanish anchovies, mussels, white tuna, pisco (a brandy product), chorizo and chocolate.
The store will have about 1,500 square feet of retail space. The Adamopouloses say its mezzanine (442 sq. ft.) will be turned into a mini gallery for artwork and photography for view and purchase. Although they plan to focus on local art, the Adamopoulos are open to working with international artists. Also, they plan to rent the space for exhibitions and events.
Although the market is not yet open, the Adamopouloses are already thinking about giving back to their community and society. Niko says they plan to offer 5 percent of their profits to non-profits democratically nominated and voted on by their customers.