SCORE Contest Prize Helps Greek Food Truck Launch Restaurant
Mountain Top’s ‘The Greek Shack’ mobile food business plans Feb. 6 eatery opening.
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Contact: Theresa Katalinas
215-519-8833, katalinascommunications@gmail.com
SCORE Contest Prize Helps Greek Food Truck Launch Restaurant
Mountain Top’s ‘The Greek Shack’ mobile food business plans Feb. 6 eatery opening.
Before food trucks were a thing, Demetri Patitsas launched a mobile ice cream business on a whim, tripled the number of trucks providing service, added six push carts and eventually sold the successful venture.
That was 20 years ago. Patitsas, at the time, was a 19-year-old Entrepreneurship student at Juniata College. As part of a college program, he received $10,000 to give Absolute Creo Ice Cream Service a go.
“From start to end it was viable, profitable,” said Patitsas, of Mountain Top, who sought guidance from a SCORE mentor. “It was a great beginning of learning a lot about business.”
Fast forward 20 years and Patitsas, along with his wife, Calliope, are embarking on a new foodservice addition. On Feb. 6, the couple will open a full-fledged commercial kitchen and restaurant. The Greek Shack shares the name of the food truck that they established on Sept. 16, 2023 and allows the family-run business to operate its food truck at special events while the restaurant is open for business.
“We grew up in Greek families. We’ve always been in the Greek Shack,” he said. “When we got married and later on started having our kids, we wanted to make it more formal.”
The common thread with all three ventures is the support Patitsas has come to expect from SCORE and its mentors. He began working with SCORE mentor and former restauranteur Marty Leff in March 2023. Together, they worked through what The Greek Shack’s labor costs versus sales costs should be.
“He was a very honest and open and available mentor,” Patitsas said. “I could tell that he derived a lot of gratification from reliving the hustle again without the risk.”
Through his relationship with Leff, Patitsas discovered SCORE’s 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition. More than 2,200 small businesses applied to compete in the five pitch events, including the Philadelphia-area event where The Greek Shack earned second place. The $10,000 prize is earmarked for the new restaurant, which features grand opening specials from Feb. 6 through Feb. 8.
“We’re trying to juggle the cash flow element of it,” Patitsas said. “The funds from SCORE helped with that.”
Ultimately contestants were pared down to 60 contenders who presented their pitch live before panels of judges at the five events, with three winners recognized at each event. Leading up to the competition, participants were paired with a SCORE mentor to help refine their pitch, strengthen their presentation and hone their business plan.
Patitsas teamed with Stephen Hall, of Washington D.C.
“He was very patient. I really appreciated his understanding that hey these people are running a business while trying to do this,” Patitsas said. “We’re building a plane as we fly it. He was really indispensable.”
For Hall, who mentored mostly high-technology companies, teaming on The Greek Shack’s pitch was a bit challenging. However, Hall said the entrepreneur’s passion was the driving force.
“That was a key ingredient in his success,” Hall said. “He extolled an exuberance and passion and strong interest in what he was doing.”
The Greek Shack has amassed a following at festivals, special events, as well as onsite service. Patitsas calls the Tzatziki sauce, which is “used on most everything,” including sandwiches, rice and Gyros, his specialty.
“We really take it seriously,” he said of the concoction featuring Greek yogurt, garlic and lemon. “There’s a temptation (among competitors) to throw in less expensive ingredients that are also white.”
The other menu standout is his late mother’s Baklava recipe, which he dubs a “dessert icon.”
On the heels of a new restaurant, Patitsas - the Chief Servant Leader - is hoping to replicate the family’s early success, the foundation of which stands firmly on his leadership principles.
“We’re trying to develop leaders. We’re trying to make people better,” he said. “We don’t want to be transactional. We want people to leave feeling more joyous and connected.”
Now, The Greek Shack is revving up for the grand opening of its first brick and mortar location in Mountaintop with a three day event: February 6th, 7th and 8th over Super Bowl weekend.
The event will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 6th at 11 AM with representation from local government, the Chamber of Commerce, and Crestwood school district. In fact, the Crestwood comet, Cosmo will be there helping bring attention to the three day event that will also serve as a fundraiser for Crestwood: a $2 donation will be made for every use of the “Buy 1 Gyro, Get a 2nd for free” promotion. Thursday will also include a Syrian string music instrument player from 4 PM to 7 PM and raffles and giveaways all weekend too!
To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit score.org.
About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at score.org.