Tags
Calgary, community, customer service, Diana Schwenk, Hump Day Chronicles, Kalamata, pricing, Supporting local business
Kalamata’s on 11th Street and 15th Avenue SW, Calgary Alberta
I’m a big believer in supporting local businesses and I am extremely loyal to businesses that treat me well and have quality products at decent prices.
One of my favourite local businesses is a family run grocery/convenience store called Kalamata’s.
Every time I go there, there’s a snake-like line-up of customers; often coiling through their impossibly small aisles.
At the same time, they are forever carrying in new inventory squeezing past the line – yes it goes off the shelves that fast – from crates of supplies stacked on pallets on the sidewalk. Their food is mouth-watering in the old traditions of Greece, especially their olives!
Somehow they manage the line of customers quickly, seemingly knowing the price of everything by heart. As an extra personal touch, I’ve seen them give kids a free treat when their parents are paying for their groceries; it reminds me of the good old days when I was a kid.
The building is not attractive. It doesn’t have the sleek modern lines of other grocery stores. Their employees are down-to-earth real people. And Kalamata’s has been voted the best Corner Store for over 15 years by Fast Forward. They don’t do any marketing as far as I know, I personally learned about them from word-of-mouth.
Their pricing is unbelievable – they have the best prices in town, often beating out large grocery chains. In a world that is largely concerned with making the biggest profit possible, Kalamata’s stands out as a business with fair prices and great customer service. They may not make as much money per item as other businesses, but my guess is that their bottom line blows the competition out of the water – a phenomenon I now call the Kalamata Effect.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
Do you have a favourite local business that you support?
talktodiana 
That sounds incredible! I love supporting shops that actually care about having their customers return! That’s a pretty rare find in today’s money driven society!
Awesome find!
~ Andrea ❤
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well if they want money, maybe having customers would help? haha!
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Exactly, strange how so few actually seem to put in the effort though.
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What a change from the so called “normal” Diana. Sounds like such an inviting little shop. Wish we had some of these around. I remember years a ago my mom taking me to the grocer store and him giving me sweets. You invoked that memory. Thank you.:)
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You’re very welcome Don! And they are super busy, open 7 days/week from 8am til 11ish pm!
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I’d love Kalamata’s.
There are too many local businesses that I support to name here. One of the things I like about Rhode Island, is that the population supports local businesses and quirky shops. The big pizza chains don’t do well here. People prefer their neighborhood place, and like buying from their neighbors. Some of the big clothing, electronics and department store chains, however, are beginning to take over. This area was hard-hit by the recession and has been slow to recover, and bottom-line prices are becoming more important.
But when it has to do with food — people aren’t as willing to forsake their traditions.
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I know I’d pay a bit more food that tastes good rather than pay less for food that has no flavour! Luckily, Kalamata has good tasting food at better prices!
Diana xo
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Looking at the photo…the building has character. I bet it stands out from all the other buildings in town, just as their customer service and prices as you describe in your post. I love down to earth. We don’t have any such stores near us but if we did, that’s were I\d shop.
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It’s a cool street. There’s a breakfast diner a couple of buildings down that always has a long line up and there’s a pizza place also owned by Greeks that makes the best pizza ever. A park just up the street and another across the street. Come to think of it, that street has a lot of character!
Diana xo
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Sounds like a great neighborhood. I like places and people with character. 🙂
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It’s wonderful that Kalamata’s is so busy–Too often people don’t patronize small, local businesses like this one.
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That is so true Sheryl. These guys have a certain … Je n’ais ce quoi though… 🙂
Diana xo
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Should check out this place one day. Toronto had a large Greektown area where I used to have my favourite custard Greek pastry, buy phyllo, buy pine honey (yes, it’s lovely).
I do patronize local businesses ….unfortunately one of them no longer exists due to flood damage –Cruff’s in Mission which did specialty cream puffs –different fillings –mango, green tea, hazelnut.
Another is Wilde Grainz which is Inglewood bakery and kinda expensive but still quality baking.
Another place which makes a good bike ride through parks pathway system is in Marlborough, –Byblos –they make flatbread, Middle eastern pastries –fresher than the stuff in Co-ops, since the retail bakery is attached to their wholesale production facility. You should see all the shop owners trooping through to buy their bags of fresh flatbreads for their restaurants, etc. Hummus is great too..not too salty and reasonably price, healthy.
I love their flatbread with zaatar spice.
Byblos supplies to the whole of western Canada. This is the real McCoy.
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I may have to check those out Jean! Have you ever been to Sour Dough’s on 17th? Great bread there too and German deli products – YUM!
Diana xo
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Bakery sounds familiar. 🙂
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I get why you love this store! It’s sad though, that stores like these are harder and harder to find.
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Yes it is Jennifer. I think people mistakenly believe they have to be like everybody else and conform. 😦
Diana xo
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The little store I miss the most was my mom’s. 😦
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Your mom had a store? That sounds like the wonderful makings of a future post. 🙂
I know you miss your folks Jennifer. ((((HUGS)))))
Diana xo
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That isn’t a bad idea, Diana! I will keep it in mind.
Jennifer xo
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I do hte same try to buy local and from local farmers, much better that way and mor individaul.. I always get chatting in the shops and that is a nice touch too!
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the human connections are the best part Ute! ❤
Diana xo
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This is what business is all about – good products, excellent service, fair prices and loyal customers. A rare breed!
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It is indeed Eric. Thanks, as always, for stopping by!
Diana xo
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Sounds like a great store
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That it is Jo-Anne!
Diana xo
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I have been to Kalamata (in Greece) so I immediately felt at home and I could feel the friendliness. 🙂
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Lucky you Elizabeth – I’ve always wanted to visit Greece. When did you go and how long were you there?
Diana xo
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1978. Six weeks. It was one of the most relaxing places n earth.
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I was reading about it when I googled Kalamata and it sounds glorious there!
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so good to hear this news.
reminds me of the past.
we don’t have this much here any more. Coles & Woolworths have taken over. Gavin.
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Yes, good old customer service is a wonderful thing! Do you have small towns near you Gavin?
Diana xo
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no.
I used to live in a small town. but it was horrible.
G.
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I lived in a small town, well more like a village of about 300 people for 7 years. I loved it!
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u is lucky.
G.
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I want to move near there!
Except for the winter.
It sounds like a wonderful store. 🙂
Val x
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It is a great store Val, but I’m not sure any store can compensate for the winter here. 🙂
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Your favorite is my favorite. Olives and feta!! I love the idea of supporting passionate people!
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Yum feta!! They are awesome and they have awesome staff! They have created quite a little community around their store as well. 🙂
Diana xo
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Looks like an adorable place. I try to support local businesses as much as possible. Yet so many have closed– yarn stores, book stores, and a great luggage store in my town. Then I go to their closing sales and buy too much stuff I don’t need.
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Sounds like you need to have a yard sale!
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I love the look of Kalamata’s, the blue paint backing the bright red product signs. And your descriptive accounting of their business ways makes me long for a similar place here in Syracuse. I’d go for a Greek olive right now! We do have several specialty food markets that cater to tastes and keep prices in line, and a lot of local restaurants absolutely flourish. Thanks, Diana!
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You would love the people too Mark, they are so … authentic – a small town feel in Alberta’s largest city!
Diana xo
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I love that store
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So many people do Cristl – I’ve never heard a negative comment about them!
Diana xo
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