From market stall to multiple locations: how Vasilis turned £1,000 into a thriving London business

With not many Greek street food options in London, Vasilis saw an opportunity to share his heritage by launching Elia Greek Street Food.

Elia Greek Street Food serves traditional Greek street food such as souvlaki and gyros. There are four locations, all in the Camden area. It also launched a new brand, Stilvi, which offers Greek-style coffees and desserts.

Here, co-founder Vasilis talks about what prompted him to start his business, the challenges he faced as a new business owner and how Grow London Local has supported his business journey.

Watch the video to hear Vasilis' story.

Transcript

What inspired you to launch Elia Greek Street Food?

At the time of our launch, London had quite a few Greek restaurants but not as many street food options. So, we decided to set up a market stall to spread our homeland's gastronomic culture.

What challenges have you faced as a business owner and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was the COVID-19 period. We opened most of our locations during the pandemic, with our first shop opening 11 days before the complete lockdown. We'd invested all our money to follow our dream, and it was a complete disaster. 

But we managed to survive. We overcame all the challenges with hard work, high-quality products and good service.

How did you hear about Grow London Local?

Our market stall's management recommended Grow London Local to us.

Would you recommend Grow London Local to other small businesses?

Yes. Grow London Local has helped me get in touch with skilled professionals who support my business.

What's next for Elia Greek Street Food? Any exciting developments on the horizon?

We are planning to open a new location soon.

Finally, what advice would you give to other small businesses in London?

Have a strong vision, a good plan and always stick to it no matter what happens. Determine what it is you want to achieve and then just follow your dream. As simple as that.

Book a free consultation with a Business Support Manager

Need help finding support for your business? Our Business Support Managers are here to help. Fill in a short form and we'll get back to you within two working days. Arrange your consultation now