Stalactites (restaurant)
| Stalactites | |
|---|---|
Stalactites in March 2025 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1978 |
| Owner(s) | Konstantinos Tsoutouras's descendants |
| Previous owner(s) | Konstantinos Tsoutouras |
| City | Melbourne |
| Website | http://www.stalactites.com.au/ |
Stalactites is a Greek-Australian restaurant in Melbourne, Australia.[1][2][3]
It is located on Lonsdale street in the Melbourne's CBD's Greek quarter.[4][5]
The restaurant was founded in 1978 by Konstantinos Tsoutouras, also known as Barba Kostas.[2] He had previously opened other chain restaurants and fish and chips stores, before opening Stalactites. It initially opened as a 24-hour restaurant, and became a part of Melbourne's nightlife.[2] Today, it is owned and operated by the descendants of its founder.[6]
It has been described as 'an institution in Melbourne's culinary scene' and is known for being frequented by celebrities including Greek tennis players. In 2019, Stalactites named a special souvlaki after Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas.[7] In 2022 the restaurant collaborated with the tennis player to bring back the special, with proceeds going to Beyond Blue.[8]
Stalactites was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
Hella Good
In 2017, the owners of Stalactites created a fast-food souvlaki take-away chain named 'Hella Good', neighbouring the restaurant. In 2020 this brand absorbed another souvlaki brand, Jimmy Grants, which had put into liquidation after financial troubles experienced by its founder George Calombaris.[10][11][12]
References
- ^ Psomiadis, Giorgos (2023-04-27). "'A home away from home': Family story behind Melbourne's iconic Stalactites restaurant". Greek Herald. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ a b c "Vale Barba Kostas, the founder of the iconic Stalactites restaurant passes away". NEOS KOSMOS. 2021-06-23. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ "Family-owned Greek restaurant Stalactites awarded Lord Mayor's Commendation". NEOS KOSMOS. 2019-07-02. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ "Lonsdale Street - Greek Precinct". The Greek Quarter. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ "Greek Precinct - What's On Melbourne". whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au. 2023-12-02. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ "Vale Barba Kostas, the founder of the iconic Stalactites restaurant passes away". NEOS KOSMOS. 2021-06-23. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ "Stalactites to create own souvlaki for Hellenic hero Tsitsipas". Good Food. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Telegramma, Tomas. "Tsitsipas Souvlaki at Stalactites". Broadsheet. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ "How the pandemic has changed the multicultural CBDs of Sydney and Melbourne". SBS News. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ Cloros, Annabelle (2020-03-09). "2 Jimmy Grants replaced with Hella Good". hospitality | Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ Cody, Tom Cowie, Gemima (2020-02-20). "Jimmy Grants shops sold as bank gets cents on the dollar in Calombaris fire sale". The Age. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Whalley, Jeff (5 March 2020). "Stalactites' message to Jimmy Grants staff: We want you". Herald Sun.