From secret shop to thriving market: Charlotte’s Agora Greek Market is an ‘experience’
Long before Agora Greek Market opened its doors as a retail shop in Charlotte, it was a secret part of a warehouse where locals could buy authentic Greek coffee and feta cheese straight from Southern Greece.
“Just by word of mouth, people would come to our wholesale business looking for these specialty items you just couldn’t find anywhere else,” said Steve Mavroidis, who co-owns the east Charlotte market with his cousin Nick. “We saw the demand grow, even with several non-Greeks coming in, so we opened up our retail space in 2012.”
In the decade since, the market has become a Charlotte staple and is one of the only local purveyors of fine Greek foods and products in the city. It’s known for its wide selection of Greek cheeses, olives, pastries and frozen dishes, such as the ready-made spanakopita. It also has a wide selection of baking supplies needed for traditional Greek recipes, such as phyllo dough and semolina.
“Our No. 1 product is the extra virgin olive oil, shipped from Eleia, a part of Greece known for its rich oily olives,” said Mavroidis, who added that the barrel-aged feta cheese made with sheep’s milk is a close second.
A shopping experience
In Ancient Greece, “agora” was a term used to describe a gathering place. In more modern Greek language, it means “to buy.” The name couldn’t be more spot on, according to longtime customer Jane Scaglione of Cornelius, an avid small businesses supporter who supplements as much as she can from the market.
“It’s just so much better than going to a chain grocery store. It’s an experience,” Scaglione said. “You get the ethnicity from other customers speaking the Greek language. The music is so happy, and I love the energy at Agora. It’s just a good time and makes it worth the trip.”
She can also attest to the quality of the foods.
“I’m a total foodie and cook all the time at home. But I really love Agora’s premade spanakopita. When I have guests over, I put it out and it’s so authentic and delicious that people think I made it,” Scaglione said.
Agora’s owners attribute Charlotte’s increasing diversity, as well as the healthy Mediterranean diet, for the market’s success.
Mavroidis was part of a large flux of Greeks who migrated to the Charlotte area in the ‘70s and ‘80s. His parents immigrated from Greece before he was born, and they lived in a mostly Greek town near Ontario, Canada, for several years prior to moving to Charlotte when Mavroidis was 5.
“Ten or 20 years ago, Charlotte didn’t have nearly as many options for ethnic foods,” Mavroidis said. “But now we have Russian stores, Korean markets, Italian, Latino and more. People are coming to our market because they want the stuff they grew up with. That diversity is what’s making us successful.”
Agora Greek Market
Location: 5122 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28212
Neighborhood: East Charlotte
