The Mediterranean Way gourmet market has received its business license and is open for business in the former Ginza/Aaron Gallery space at 1717 Connecticut Avenue NW.
The store owners and husband and wife team of Niko and Oana Adamopoulos held a soft opening on Saturday, October 19, and began normal business hours Sunday.
Right now the store is open seven days a week from about 10:30 am until about 8:30 pm, Oana tells Elevation DC. Dupont Circle is a very busy area with people walking until late in the day, so it is good to be open, she explained. Oana says that she and her husband may choose to close one day a week in about a month, after the shop has become more well known.
Having lived in Greece and Italy before moving to the United States, the Adamopouloses yearned for many foods and beverages that were no longer readily available to them. The Mediterranean Way is their attempt to bring imported artisan products to their local DC neighborhood at a reasonable price.
Among the products being offered by The Mediterranean Way are olive oils and olives, pure honey, balsamic vinegars, jams and fruit preserves, chocolates and sweets, pastas, coffees and teas, and skin care and cosmetic products from Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Turkey and Tunisia. Samples of extra virgin olive oil from Greece and balsamic vinegrette from Italy are provided to customers each day, Oana says. The market also carries salads, sandwiches and wraps made by
Bread & Chocolate and prepared foods from
The Greek Table as well as baguettes and ciabatta from a local bakery. Oana says that the market will soon offer locally made baklava as well.
Since the owners are directly importing many of the products that they feature in their online marketplace and in their store, they are also making these products available on a wholesale basis to other retailers, restaurants and marketplaces.
The market also has a 442-square-foot mezzanine-level gallery, which can be booked for events and exhibitions.