Specialty food pioneer Paul Margarites has passed away at the age of 85. Margarites worked in the industry for over 30 years, dating back to the 1960s, when he and his brother opened four Foods of All Nations gourmet stores in the Walt Whitman Mall, Smith Haven Mall, and shopping centers in Eastchester and Manhasset, NY.
In the 1970s, they expanded locations and opened up the Gourmet Galley, a chain with stores in Westport and Greenwich, Conn., introducing consumers to unique European specialties. After selling his business in 1978, he went on to grow and develop the specialty cheese business at Long Island provision in Greenlawn. During this time, he imported cheeses to the U.S. from all over the world, including raw milk cheeses from France, Cheddar from England, Gouda from Holland, and cheeses from Switzerland. His showmanship and unique merchandising earned him a cover story in Specialty Food Magazine in 1980. He later went to work for Daitch/Shopwell to design and launch The Food Emporium.
Paul is survived by his wife Margo, four children (Jim and daughter-in-law Nikki, Steven and daughter-in-law Dawn, Philip and Dina and son-in-law Greg), six grandchildren (Paul and wife Zoe, Chris, Maria, Athena and fiancé Rob, Zoe and Anastasia) and great-granddaughter Celeste.
Margarites’ funeral will be a private ceremony at St Paraskevi Greek Orthodox church in Greenlawn, NY. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St Paraskevi Grotto Shrine Restoration project.
from Specialty Food News https://ift.tt/2zhHazL
No comments: