Business & Tech
Europa Balkan Food Market In Stamford 'More Than Just A Grocery Store'
The market, which officially opened in late September, features a wide selection of food items from Europe and the Balkans.
STAMFORD, CT — For those looking to get a taste of Europe and the Balkans without leaving the confines of Stamford, look no further than Europa Balkan Food Market, a small specialty grocery store located at 1100 Hope St.
The business is family-operated and owned by Adi Memeti, who opened about a month ago in the space formerly occupied by a gym and previously Giacamo's Deli.
Memeti, a former general manager at Blackstone's Steakhouse and a veteran in the food industry for over 20 years, works with distributors in different regions to bring unique offerings to his store.
Find out what's happening in Stamfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Europa Balkan Food Market features a wide selection of cheeses; meats like sausages, salamis, top round and beef ribs; pasta; beans; honey; spices; olives; jams and spreads; beverages; snacks; chocolates; sweets; frozen foods and more from countries like Albania; Bosnia; Bulgaria; Croatia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Kosovo; North Macedonia; Poland; Romania; Serbia and Montenegro; Slovenia; and Turkey.
There are a variety of homemade desserts, like baklava, Greek cookies and more.
Find out what's happening in Stamfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Customers can also grab a cup of Turkish, Greek or Italian coffee for 99 cents in what could be the best deal in Stamford, or $1.99 for a cup of espresso. The coffee is also for sale to make at home.
A 20-year resident of Stamford, Memeti said he wanted to open the market to bring a taste of Europe and the Balkans to Springdale and the city. He said he's had the idea for over a year.
The reaction from the community since he opened in late September has been positive, Memeti said, with customers often trying something new or finding something they haven't had or been able to find in years.
"Every single customer says, 'Wow, thank you very much for opening,'" Memeti said. "I don't think of this as just a grocery store. It's not like going to Stop & Shop. I think here you feel like you're back to your roots, back to your country, and back to memories of when you were young."
Europa Balkan Food Market is open from Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Follow the business on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with updates and new offerings.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
