BROOKLYN, NY – It was a successful weekend for Hana House in Downtown Brooklyn, as it hosted its second Greek Pop-Up Market.
Held on Saturday June 14 from 10 AM at Willoughby Plaza, 345 Adams Street, the Market put a spotlight on Greek-American businesses in a unique celebration of Greek culture and craftsmanship.
From the minute you entered the building, you felt like you were wandering the streets of the Monastiraki district of Athens. Adorned with Greek flags hanging from the ceiling, the room was filled with a variety of Greek vendors offering everything from authentic food and beverages to jewelry, candles, clothes, baked goods and more. Greek music also played gently in the background, which paired with the venue’s dimmed lighting, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for all to enjoy.
The Greek Pop-Up Market featured more than 10 vendors including Titan Foods, Helen Georgio Jewelry, Agno Elliniko Meli, Hará NYC, Mentis Estate, Gia Gamas, Modern Lusso, My Komboloi, Tama, Flokati Rugs and Artion Bakery.
There were also additional vendors catering the event, where people could enjoy a Greek coffee from Thame Kafe, a scoop of liquor-infused ice cream from Tipsy Scoop, sweets from Aphrodite’s Catering, and a variety of Greek wines, which were offered in a wine tasting event with Andreas Kelemidis, from Oinos Wines.
Despite a slower than expected start to the day due to the slightly colder and wet weather, one of the organizers of the event, Elena Stephanopoulos said she was happy to host the event for a second time and return to Hana House.
She described it as a “place of community” which showcases Greek vendors and creates a hub for Greeks to meet, eat and shop.
“It makes me feel so excited to be here. It’s just so fun for me and I love bringing people together, and I love it when they walk away and say ‘wow, I got some great finds and the food was awesome,’” Elena told TNH.
Elena described the event as one like no other, drawing Greeks in from all over New York.
“Nothing like this exists anywhere else in New York. You have your Greek festivals run by the churches which are wonderful, but they’re all about food and music – this is a little bit of everything,” she said.
“You’re going to get really great food, a really nice vibe, the chance to meet up with friends and enjoy a Greek coffee and browse through a variety of vendors to find amazing products like olive oils, and various products from Greek designers from Greece, that you really can’t find in your local shops.”
One of the vendors from the market, the owner of Flokati Rugs, Kathy Rogakos revealed how she attended the Greek Pop-Up Market for the first time on Saturday.
She said she came along to the market to “add to the Greek culture” on offer and sell her Flokati wool rugs.
“We are here selling Greek authentic Flokati rugs,” Kathy told TNH. They are all natural, all wool, they can accommodate any décor, modern or classic, they are washable, and they come in any shape and size you like.”
After running her business for about 10 years, she said it was nice to be involved in a space such as the Greek Pop-Up Market, that “promotes Greek products.”
Mary Pouli, founder, and designer of Tama – a unique Astoria-based jewelry business specializing in folkloric and traditional Greek designs sourced from Greece, also attended the Market, but for her second time.
She added how she felt to return to the Greek Pop-Up Market. “It feels super nice. I’m so glad to see people that I met at the last event here again and meet a few new faces too. I really like connecting to people who are also interested in these kinds of designs, and it’s great to be able to talk, connect, share experiences, and make friends along the way,” Mary said.
She further expressed what she loves most about the Market, and how events like this connect the community. “It brings people together in the community that we may or may not have met before and lets us discover new products and brands sold here in New York. Coming here is especially nice when you’re away from home, as you get the opportunity to feel like you’re in Greece again,” Mary told TNH, adding, “I want to keep supporting the Greek bazaar as much as I can because it’s a great opportunity for all of us to create something bigger for the Greek community.”’
Nikos Kokkinos, the owner of Modern Lasso, a handmade Mediterranean luxury candle company from Greece also attended the market for the first time on Saturday. Travelling all the way from Washington, DC, he said the Pop-Up Market was a wonderful event that catered to the Greek community.
“I love that it promotes Greeks supporting Greeks, which is very important for our culture to come together,” he told TNH. “I feel like this is a great opportunity for me to be able to bring the brand here in New York City…and I hope to return in the future.”
