Who Is Baba?
If you've ever attended the Atlanta Greek Festival, there's a good chance you've met him.
For more than four decades, visitors have known him simply as "Baba." Standing behind shelves of Greek cheeses, olives, honey, olive oil, spices, and traditional foods, Baba became a familiar face to generations of festival guests.
But long before Baba's Bakaliko became a brand, it was a way of life.
From Greece to Atlanta
Baba, whose name is Nick Economos, was born in Athens, Greece, in 1933. His family's roots trace back to the islands of Mykonos, Paros, and Fourni, where tradition, faith, and community shaped everyday life.
He grew up during World War II, when life in Greece was difficult and resources were scarce. Through those challenging years, what sustained his family was their faith, their church, and the strength of their community.
After the war, Nick immigrated to the United States in search of opportunity and a better future. Like many Greek families, he brought with him the values that had shaped his life: faith, family, hospitality, and tradition.
Meals were shared around crowded tables filled with olives, bread, cheese, olive oil, coffee, and stories that stretched late into the evening. When the Economos family eventually settled in Atlanta, they carried those traditions with them.
Building the Bakaliko
In Greece, a bakaliko is a traditional village market.
It's the place where neighbors gather to buy everyday essentials, catch up on local news, and connect with their community. A bakaliko isn't just a store—it's often the heart of the neighborhood.
For more than 40 years, Baba helped recreate that experience at the Atlanta Greek Festival.
Visitors would stop by to discover authentic Greek products, ask questions about ingredients, learn family recipes, and hear stories about Greece. Many returned year after year, bringing children and eventually grandchildren to experience the same traditions.
What began as a small festival market became one of the most beloved stops at the festival.
More Than a Market
For Baba, the Bakaliko was never simply about selling products.
It was about sharing a culture.
Every jar of honey, every block of feta, every olive and spice blend represented a connection to Greece and the generations that came before.
He believed food could tell a story.
A recipe passed down through a grandmother. A cup of Greek coffee shared among friends. Olive oil poured over a family meal. These simple moments carried traditions across oceans and generations.
A Legacy Worth Preserving
Today, Baba is in his nineties.
As time passed, our family realized that the traditions he spent a lifetime sharing deserved to continue beyond the festival grounds.
That's why we created Baba's Bakaliko.
Our mission is simple: to preserve and share the foods, flavors, and traditions that Baba introduced to our community for more than four decades.
Every product we offer is inspired by the same values that guided him throughout his life: authenticity, hospitality, family, and community.
Carrying the Tradition Forward
Baba's Bakaliko is more than an online store.
It is a continuation of a story that began generations ago in Greece and found a home in Atlanta.
Every olive, spice, honey, cheese, and recipe we share carries a piece of that history.
Whether you grew up attending the Atlanta Greek Festival or are discovering Greek culture for the first time, we invite you to become part of the tradition.
Welcome to Baba's Bakaliko.
Welcome to the family.
— Jimmy Economos