For Mountain Top resident Demetri Patitsas and his family, hospitality is in their blood.
Growing up, Patitsas and his wife, Calliop, whose families are both from Greece, were surrounded by good food and even better company.
“The table was always full, you know?” Patitsas said. “Full of people, full of food. It’s a very faith-focused, family tradition.”
Even as adults, food service is a huge part of their lives, whether they’re hosting friends and family at their home or supporting the Greek Orthodox Church they’re a part of.
Bringing people together through food — making them feel welcomed and accepted — was what drove the Patitsas family in 2023 to start The Greek Shack, a mobile food truck that specializes in everything Greek from salads, sandwiches and pastries.
The menu also features several vegan options.
With the success of the food truck, the family recently took the next step in expanding their business by opening a brick-and-mortar location at 683 S. Mountain Blvd. last month.
“Our thought was, you know, start with the mobile, test the market and learn a bit more about the surrounding areas. From there, we’d start building brick-and-mortars in places that we know there’s a good, strong response,” Patitsas explained.
Sharing their culture with customers has been a dream come true for the family.
“On the island of Lafkada, which is on the Ianian side between Greece and Italy, to this day, our cousins have a gyro stand that’s as old as the town is. So it was exciting to keep that tradition. To bring much of it here, to another country, was pretty amazing,” Patitsas said.
The Greek Shack has also allowed them to honor their loved ones, especially Patitsas’ mother, who passed away seven years ago from breast cancer.
“She always had food and family around her,” Patitsas remembered. “The sweet and dessert items come from my mother’s tradition.”
The more savory dishes, like the marinades and grilled meats, come from Calliop’s side of the family.
“It has so much potential of a perfect marriage in that both of these sides had expertise in different types of food,” Patitsas said.
Being a small family business means that everyone gets involved, including the couple’s five sons.
“The kids are there, my wife’s helping prep and prepare food twice a week. We all kind of travel together for the different fairs and festivals along with our team,” he said. “I think that’s a powerful part of our story.”
Although the brick-and-mortar location has allowed The Greek Shack to become a constant presence in the community, the food truck is still an essential part of the business.
Patitsas said the mobile unit is great for “high volume, high traffic areas,” while the brick-and-mortar location is more accessible to customers in the colder months.
As for what the future holds, the family already has plans to open a second location near Juniata College in Huntingdon.
“Maybe we’ll make this into more of a regional brand,” Patitsas said. “In any case, we’re open to those ideas, and we’re approaching it in that way.”
“We’re a small family business with big dreams.”
