Neighborhood market Stella’s Grocery opens on Lafayette Street

The upscale grocer features prepared foods, beer and wine, a café and bakery, and a selection of locally-made products.

April 28, 2015; 9:15 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

It all started with a prep kitchen. Katrina and Johnny Giavos needed a place nearby for Katrina’s mother, Stella Dikos, to make her much beloved dishes for the third incarnation of her wildly popular eponymous restaurant, Stella’s. They also need room to bake — Chelle Bravo, their baker, was making desserts for all of the restaurants the couple own or co-owns, including Stella’s, Kitchen 64 and Perly’s, among others.

The conversation slowly evolved. Johnny wanted to turn part of the space into a spot to buy prepared food. Giavos is already a busy woman — most nights, you’ll find her at Stella’s talking to customers, delivering plates to tables and making sure things are running smoothly. Over the years, she’s been onsite to open nearly a half-dozen restaurants.

“I told Johnny he was crazy if he thought I’d do another thing,” says Katrina Giavos. And she didn’t want to overwhelm her mother.

Beyond prepared foods and staple items, the upscale neighborhood grocer features a café with fresh-brewed coffee and bakery items, beer and wine, and a selection of local products. Check out the full Style Weekly article for full details.