Where Decades' Christos Garkinos Shops For Greek Grub

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Los Angeles has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around LA that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.

Image via Papa Cristo's

Decades co-founder and Dukes of Melrose reality TV star Christos Garkinos has established himself as an LA fashion fixture. The footwear pro carefully curates rare vintage and avant-garde pieces for his Melrose boutique known and loved by Angelenos for its blowout shoe sales. A lesser known fact, however, is the fashion maven's love for all things Greek. He's been known to throw an impressive Greek Easter fete and can whip up tasty Mediterranean dishes, too. Here, he shares his favorite little Greek market, where he goes to stock up on all the goods.

My favorite off-the-beaten path store is Papa Cristo's on Pico and Normandie. Being the die-hard Greek I am, I go to Papa Cristo's for all my Greek specialty foods—lamb, olive oil, baklava, etc. I host a 50 person Greek Easter party every year and Papa Cristo's is my one-stop shop for the festivities. Cristo himself is about 4'11. I love the guy. I've shot with him before and he had to be lifted on two apple boxes to get anywhere near me in the scene. Thursday nights is taverna night, where it is true family style with hot belly dancers throughout. Opa!

· Papa Cristo's [Official Site]
· Decades [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked]

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Decades

8214 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046 Visit Website

Papa Cristos

2771 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90006