For generations, the Antoniou family has welcomed visitors to Naxos through the family-run restaurant To Elliniko, which continues to operate at the island’s port. Over the years, the restaurant has become a familiar meeting point for locals and travellers, introducing countless visitors to the island through its cuisine and hospitality.
Greek Things is a continuation of this same desire to welcome people to Naxos, but through a different medium.
Founded by Manolis Antoniou, the project began with a simple question: what does it mean to take a piece of Greece home with you? Rather than reproducing the familiar model of a tourist shop, Antoniou envisioned a space where visitors could discover contemporary Greece through objects, books, designers and the country’s contemporary cultural production.
Located directly opposite To Elliniko, it occupies a space that was once part of the original family restaurant. Today, it operates as a concept store and bar, bringing together contemporary Greek makers, independent publishers and artists from across the country.
The selection includes ceramics, jewellery, textiles, marble objects, photography, clothing and publications, alongside a constantly evolving collection of products designed exclusively for the store. Each object is chosen not as a stereotypical representation of Greece, but as an expression of the creativity, craftsmanship and contemporary cultural production emerging across the country today.
Books occupy a central place in the concept. Titles from Greek and international publishers explore subjects including architecture, design, mythology, gastronomy, island life, the Mediterranean and contemporary Greece. Together, they form an evolving library that reflects the space’s broader interest in how Greece is represented, understood and experienced.
At the heart of the space stands a luminous vertical installation — a contemporary reinterpretation of the Greek column. Made of glass, mirrors, galvanised steel and integrated lighting, the structure functions simultaneously as a display system, a focal point and a symbolic element. Its adjustable glass shelves host changing displays of objects, while the reflective surfaces create a sense of continuity and depth.
For Antoniou, Greek Things is not primarily about retail, but about creating meaningful connections between people and place. The store brings visitors, makers, publishers and the local community together within a shared environment, offering an experience that extends beyond the simple act of purchasing an object.
The architectural design of the space, by Artemis Valyraki, follows the same philosophy. Drawing inspiration from Naxos’s material culture and the history of the building itself, the design incorporates local marble, colour, light and traces of its previous uses, creating a space deeply connected to the island while remaining distinctly contemporary.
While To Elliniko continues to introduce visitors to Naxos through gastronomy, Greek Things offers a different way of experiencing the island — through objects, ideas and stories. Together, the two ventures express different facets of the same enduring commitment to hospitality shared by the Antoniou family.
At a time when tourism increasingly shapes the experience of a place, Greek Things offers a more personal and meaningful way to connect with Naxos — one that places contemporary Greek culture, local craftsmanship and authentic encounters at its heart, moving beyond the familiar clichés of tourism.
Founder & Curator Manolis Antoniou
Architectural Design Artemis Valyraki
Brand Identity Loonatiks Design Crew
Photos Olina Katsari
