Eleven years ago, Vassiliki Stratikopoulou and her husband Leonidas Georgopoulos decided to leave Greece, emigrating to Evanston with their son Peter and, in the process, abandoning a successful cafe they co-ran.
Upon arriving in Evanston, each pursued careers in different fields: Stratikopoulou as a psychotherapist, Georgopoulos as a pharmacist and their son as a nurse practitioner.
Now, they’ve decided to return to their roots and open a new cafe, this time centering on crepes. They began looking for a storefront last spring and found their current location at 601 Dempster St., formerly home to Dozika, in July, according to Stratikopoulou.
An interior designer helped perfect the small details to bring the family’s vision to life: The walls are bubblegum pink; one has an elaborate mural, others have plenty of draped florals and a blown-up version of their logo adorns another wall.
“It just had to be very different and cool, something that you cannot find somewhere else,” Stratikopoulou said. “It’s unique.”
Stratikopoulou explained Crepe O’Clock’s menu is distinct from other cafes, featuring a mix of traditional Greek pastries like spanakopita and tiropita, sweet and savory crepes and homemade coffee.
Unlike his immediate family, the couple’s other son, Christos Georgopoulos, has lived with his fiancée full-time in Athens, Greece, where he runs his own pharmacy. He has recently spent time in Evanston, helping his parents craft the cafe’s menu.
“Coffee is art, especially in the Mediterranean,” Christos Georgopoulos said. “I want to teach the new employees how to do it in the proper way.”
Christos Georgopoulos said he has fallen in love with Evanston, citing “the vibes and variety of people.”
He added he has already lined up interviews for a potential master’s degree at Northwestern.
“In Athens, it’s like a straight line,” Christos Georgopoulos said. “Here, it’s more adventurous.”
While Crepe O’Clock celebrated a soft opening on Dec. 23, the first week of January was their first official week, heightened by the return of NU students to campus.
The family has spent that time ironing out the restaurant’s menu, adjusting its hours and hiring workers, including 16-year-old Evanston Township High School student Nikoletta Dandelles.
Dandelles, who works the cash register, is also Greek, and her family hails from the same village in Greece as Stratikopoulou and Georgopoulos.
“People complain about work, but I like to come here,” Dandelles said. “They feel like family.”
So far, the family has enjoyed a positive response from community members, according to Georgopoulos, but this is just the beginning for Crepe O’Clock.
Upcoming plans include expanding the menu, creating custom deals, decorating for holidays like Valentine’s Day and giving NU students a 15% discount on all offerings, Stratikopoulou explained.
“We follow the vibes of Evanston,” she said. “Whatever the people want, we are going to do according to them.”
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