Stella’s Grocery Pairs with the VMHC

Two of my favorite Richmond things are joining forces. Stella’s Grocery and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture have announced a partnership to stock foods from Stella’s Grocery at the museum’s café and in the retail shop.

The pairing might not seem as random as it first appears. The founder and matriarch of Stella’s influenced Richmond foodways for more than seven decades. Stella Dikos’ life and legacy will also be featured in the VMHC’s upcoming exhibition “We The People.”

The museum café, dubbed Commonwealth Café, already features a selection of local gourmet products, such as Baltik’s Bagels, Billy Pie Pizzas, Flour Garden Bakery Goods, and Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches. The selection from Stella’s Grocery expands the menu with salads, wraps, sandwiches, desserts, and more, all with Greek influences.

The iconic Stella Dikos

Born in 1942 in Trikala, Thessaly, Stella Dikos immigrated to Richmond in the 1950s, where she and her husband, Stavros Dikos, opened the Village Café. The restaurant became a favorite for many locals, introducing Greek fare and paving the way to open the namesake restaurant, Stella’s, in 1983.

Stella’s became a staple in Richmond’s dining scene. The kitchen served high-quality, authentic Greek cuisine, while the service reflected Stella Dikos’ hospitality and warmth. In 2015, the family opened the first Stella’s Grocery location, which has since expanded to seven locations in Richmond and one in Charleston, South Carolina.

The legacy

Katrina Giavos, Stella’s daughter and one of the owners of the restaurant and markets, is collaborating with the VMHC on “We The People.” The exhibition will use artifacts and stories of people and families who relocated to Virginia and helped to shape the state’s identity. Stella Dikos’ journey from Trikala to Richmond exemplifies how the merging of communities enriches American life.

My tribute to Stella Dikos and her namesake in “100 Things to Do in Richmond Before You Die”

Visitors can enjoy the café and goodies from Stella’s Grocery during their next trip to the VMHC or make a special stop for coffee, lunch, or a to-go snack. A selection of gourmet products will also be for sale in the museum’s retail store, and Stella’s catering will be featured as part of the VMHC’s facility rental opportunities.

Virginia Museum of History & Culture 
428 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, Virginia

Images provided by the VMHC