The Sweet Greek has made its long-awaited debut in Milton at 6776 Stewart St., celebrating its grand opening on July 31.
Owner Melissa Glyptis Simpson has been working tirelessly to renovate the building, built in 1946, to help her achieve her goal of creating a spacious café that upholds her family’s lengthy line of cherished Greek recipes, which inspired the café.
Glyptis Simpson built up a following for her homemade baked goods, such as her famed baklava cinnamon rolls and koulourakia cookies, in her original shop at 5237 Willing St., which she quickly outgrew.
Now, she has built on her business’s foundation, with the new space painted with elaborate Greek murals, family photos hung on the walls, and rows and rows of baklava and cookies waiting to be devoured.
“We have made so much baklava… I think we’ve sold about 300 pieces of baklava already today,” she said Thursday afternoon. “Everything is selling off the shelf right now.”
In addition to her sweets, the extra space has also allowed her to integrate some savory items into the menu, such as her house quiche with Conecuh sausage, spanakopita, homemade New York-style bagels, pasta salad and Greek salad. She has plenty of ideas for more on the way (hint, hint: homemade soups), but is starting out simple for the new shop’s beginnings.
Their coffee beverages alone have made The Sweet Greek a destination, with the homemade honey lavender latte and the crème brûlée being house favorites.
How The Sweet Greek got started: Baklava is just the beginning for Milton’s newest, and only, Greek bakery
Customers can now spread out and get comfortable in the main café, which offers a mix of seating options ranging from cozy couches to traditional tables. For those looking for a little more privacy to get work done, she has built in a conference room and office suites available to rent for the day.
Glyptis Simpson spared no expense when it came to breathing life into the old building, dressing it up with herringbone floors, decorative chandeliers and an electric fireplace.
Longtime customers are already making their return, delivering the exact enthusiastic reaction she was hoping for.
“It has been really neat watching everybody coming in, some of these people we haven’t seen since we closed,” she said. “What’s funny is a lot of people that are coming in, we still remember their drinks…that has been really special to them, I think, too.”
“Everyone’s just taking it in and (saying), ‘wow,'” she said.
Glyptis Simpson said the current offerings are only a taste of what’s to come.
Ready to visit yourself? The Sweet Greek is now open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. However, Glyptis Simpson plans to expand its hours to include evenings soon.
For-real time updates and information, follow The Sweet Greek on social media for real-time updates and information.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Sweet Greek Milton bakery sweet treats showcase of new Milton shop
