Patisserie Boulangerie Afroditi

The '70s in Quebec saw a significant influx of Greek immigrants, many of whom settled in Montreal. This wave also brought the Karagiannidis family, owners of Patisserie Boulangerie Afroditi on Saint-Roch Street. "In Greece, there are bakeries and pastry shops almost everywhere. When we visit someone, we bring cakes. Everything revolves around baking," says Vasilios Karagiannidis, the establishment's general manager and co-owner.

It was his father who saw the opportunity to open his own bakery in 1971, and who brought his brothers over from Greece to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the business with him. Although he had no experience in the food industry, his passion for learning and taste for adventure prompted him to take the plunge.

"It's truly a family business," says Vasilios, who works alongside his uncles, his mother and his father in the bakery. Although he has been called to the Bar, Vasilios decided to change careers and train in baking in order to perfect his art and contribute to the success of the family business. "Entrepreneurship is in my blood and I loved the bakery. I grew up here."