A Recipe for Long Term Business Success

Quality. Consistency. Value. Customer Service.

These are a few of the ingredients that have allowed a small food and catering business in Washington, DC to flourish for over 35 years.

Many of my fellow Washingtonians are familiar with the Greek Deli, a small take-out and catering space located on 19th Street NW. I remember when I first learned about the Greek Deli and would show up to find lines of customers spilling into the sidewalk (even on the most humid days of the DC Summer).  It was soon apparent that the Mediterranean food was delicious, fresh and affordable.  The gyro sandwiches, the fresh roasted turkey and baked chicken, the Avgolemono soup, the Baked Salmon Friday Special, and traditional Greek platters with servings so robust that it made two meals. There are also homemade items to-go such as dolmades, hummus and yogurt with honey.  The food is consistently delicious and reasonably priced.

But the food is only one of the reasons for the long-term success of the Greek Deli.  The other is the gregarious Chef and Owner, Kostas Fostieris, who is always there to take the orders, serve the plates and chat with customers. With his Greek influenced accent, witty sense of humor and engaging charm, he made everyone feel comfortable.  For the uninitiated, when it was crowded, Kostas would take a customer’s order and then yell loudly, “Next!”, and hopefully, the next surprised customer was ready with their order.

A little about Kostas from the Greek Deli website:

Kostas Fostieris’ love of food and family were born early, in Sineti, a small village in Andros, Greece, where he grew up watching his mother cook for a family of seven. Kostas was born into a family with modest means and left Sineti at age 17 to go to Piraeus to attend engineering school. After graduating, Kostas joined the Merchant Marines where he worked and served in the Greek Navy for six years. After meeting his future wife, Kostas left Greece and came to the United States in 1975. It wasn’t long before his interest in cooking blossomed. Kostas worked his way up in the kitchens of some of the most renown restaurants in the Washington, DC, area prior to his opening the Greek Deli in 1990.

Kostas passion for cooking and dedication to his customers is what inspires him. Kostas pledge to his customers: “My friends, for 30+ years I have strived for perfection in the food I prepare and serve to you. All of our food is homemade, fresh, never frozen. My daily specials are always evolving to satisfy the tastes of every customer.”

The Greek Deli has weathered many challenges over the years including government shutdowns, and the Covid 19 pandemic.  Kostas recently announced that he will be retiring after 35 years of service. While the Greek Deli will still be around with new owners, Kostas’ well-deserved retirement signifies the end of a legacy and a shining example of what it takes to successfully run a small business.

www.greekdelidc.com