By Demetrios Rhompotis

Acting upon his more than two decades Manhattan experience, Katopodis had introduced into the area the concept of high quality, gourmet products from all over the world, and with fresh produce from Long Island’s vast fields. All that, with a home style cuisine that turned the regular supermarket chore into a completely different experience. For most of the patrons, North Shore Market became not just a store, but an institution that reflected the area’s development and the new needs that came with it.

Cheese from such exotic places as Andorra, or Greece’s legendary Parnassus mountain; brick oven Brooklyn bread from a family tradition that goes back generations; French pate – some of it even Kosher; cold-pressed olive oil from a variety of countries; a hard-to-beat selection of fresh fish and meats; salami that makes the offerings of a full-fledged Italian or Jewish deli look poor in comparison; Spanish Serrano ham on a par with the tastier of prosciutto; aged underground Greek gruyere; a coffee selection that gets you on high caffeine levels just by looking at it; halvah from Greece, Israel and Turkey; farm-fresh fruits and vegetables that taste and smell as fresh as they look—these are just a few of North Shore Market’s staples.

“The rest are up to every gourmet adventurer to discover,” says Katopodis who came to the US from Greece at the age of 18 to study Economics. Soon, the supermarket industry absorbed him completely, becoming his second nature. “When I say gourmet, I am not talking about some fancy staff, meant for food specialists, but the kind of food every home, every family must have the opportunity to enjoy. For those of us who grew up in the old country, where everything was fresh and naturally-produced, good, healthy products should not be a luxury but a right,” he pointed out. “I am not only the owner, I am also a customer and the same kind of quality that I reserve for my family, I want for the rest of the people as well.”

For the countless of Greek-Americans living in the area, the new North Shore Market is a real …blessing! All the Greek and Cypriot products found in Astoria’s – about 35 miles away – neighborhood stores are here and in bigger varieties. Besides the staple extra virgin olive oil, cheese and spices, a whole line of home made pastries, party dishes, appetizers, spreads and other delicacies are there for them, minutes away from their homes.

Besides Nick Katopodis, Louis Alaimo and Thomas Tsamis, two of the industry’s most seasoned people, are in charge of the new store. Glen Cove City Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi inaugurated the new North Shore Market with Rev. Emmanuel Gratsias, Dean of the town’s Greek Orthodox Parish, officiating at the millennium old Haghiasmos Ceremony. Sea Cliff Mayor Eileen A. Krieb was also there, along with Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce President Gabor Karsai, Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Phyllis Gorham, Former Owner of the Port Washington Locations & Advisor to North Shore Farms Lou Campanelli, Developers & Builders of North Shore Farms: Joseph Graziose, Jr. & Joseph Graziose, Sr, Building Owner L.J. Martone, Andy Zoitas, Manny Tsiskakis, Nick Sahlaras representing the industry, friends and well-wishers.

The new North Shore Market is located at 190 Glen Cove Ave., in Glen Cove, with telephone number (516) 801-6031.