History of "Cretan Corner"
History of “Cretan Corner”
1940-1941: The Beginning
In Maleme, Manolis and Helen Paparaftakis lived in a two-story home. The ground floor housed a small café-grocery, while the upper floor contained their kitchen, bedroom, and a cozy lounge-dining area. Life was peaceful. Manolis, a resourceful and hardworking man, spent his days working as a carpenter, shoemaker, or driver of the “Venizelos” bus. In the evenings, he would open his café, filling the air with melodies from his gramophone, entertaining the locals with songs of the era. Their tranquil life changed forever on April 10, 1941, with the birth of their son, Theodoros Paparaftakis.
May 20, 1941: The Battle of Crete
At dawn on May 20, 1941, the German invasion of Crete began with waves of paratroopers descending over Maleme Airport and the greater Chania area. The first waves of paratroopers faced fierce resistance from New Zealand, Australian, British, and Greek defenders. The local Cretan population also joined the battle, armed with anything they could find—from old rifles to simple knives—fighting courageously for their homeland.
Among them was Manolis Paparaftakis, who, despite his wife’s pleas to stay hidden, chose to fight. His bravery cost him his life that very day.
From the Past to the Present
Years passed, and Theodoros grew up, studied, and started a family of his own, having two children, Eleni and Manolis. Manolis, deeply connected to his roots, always dreamed of reviving the small shop at the end of the street—his grandfather’s unfinished legacy.
His love for Crete and its traditions was unwavering. He envisioned a place where visitors and locals alike could experience the rich culture and flavors of Crete. His grandfather’s café-grocery would be reborn as a showcase of authentic Cretan heritage.
The Birth of “Cretan Corner”
Growing up surrounded by the bounty of Cretan land, Manolis knew that Cretans thrived on nature’s gifts. Their diet was based on fresh vegetables, wild greens, artisanal cheeses like graviera, mizithra, and anthotyro, as well as legumes, fruits, and even delicacies like snails.
Their meals were seasoned with aromatic herbs from the island’s mountains—thyme, oregano—and always paired with local wines and tsikoudia. Breakfasts included hearty rusks, mountain tea such as malotira and dictamnus, and pure thyme honey.
With this vision in mind, Manolis founded “Cretan Corner”—a place where every visitor could taste and take home the finest Cretan products. His journey across Crete, searching for the best locally-produced goods, never stops. His mission is clear: to bring only the highest quality Cretan products to the tables of customers and friends of “Cretan Corner”.
Since May 2003, “Cretan Corner” has been a proud landmark in Maleme, Chania, run by Manolis Paparaftakis and his wife, Irini Chnari. Their philosophy is simple but powerful:
“You taste it once… You remember it forever.”
The “Cretan Corner” has been operating since May 2003 until today in Maleme, Chania, by Manolis Paparaftakis and his wife Irini Chnari. Their basic principle and unique advertisement is:
“You have the taste … You remember forever …”
