Christopher Harbin has never been to Greece. He’s not Greek. He didn’t grow up eating feta or sipping Assyrtiko.
But step inside his new West Palm Beach shop, The Little Greek Market, and you’ll find a curated world of cheeses, wines, olive oils and nostalgia crafted entirely from imagination.
“I’ve always been obsessed with Greek mythology and the culture,” Harbin says. “Since I was a kid, it’s just lived in my head.”
His headspace — filled with stories, flavors and friendships — became the blueprint for his market.
What to expect at The Little Greek Market in West Palm Beach
Harbin works in business development by day. But after years of learning from close Greek friends in his hometown of Ocala and attending countless house parties steeped in tradition, he decided to build something tangible: a place that celebrates Greek cuisine and community, even if it’s filtered through his own lens.
“I never cared much for cheese growing up,” he admits. “But everyone around me loved different cheeses, wines, meats, fruits. I got curious.”
That curiosity led to years of research and tastings. Harbin focused on three pillars: cheese, wine and olive oil.
His cheese selection highlights regional nuances, from soft, non-barrel-aged feta made in the mountains of Trichonida to rich, barrel-aged varieties with bold complexity. He even carries a rare cheese from Naxos that many Greeks haven’t heard of.
“There are so many levels of feta,” he says. “Most people only know the commercial stuff. I wanted to show what makes each type unique, whether it’s sheep’s milk, goat’s milk or a blend.”
His wine program will be equally thoughtful and is expected to kick off soon. Harbin is creating a grid display system in-store and online that helps customers choose bottles based on flavor profile, not just price. Wines are categorized by type (white, red, sparkling) and intensity (mild to bold), with pairing suggestions for proteins, salads and sweets.
“You don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to shop here,” he says. “I wanted it to be easy and approachable.”
The olive oils follow suit, chosen for their purity and regional character.
And while importing meats from Europe is restricted, Harbin found a U.S. producer that makes Greek-style sausages and cured meats using pasture-raised pork, free from antibiotics and nitrates.
His Greek friends gave them the ultimate compliment: “This is it. This is exactly what we’ve been looking for.”
House-made sandwiches use ingredients sold in the store, reinforcing the idea that customers can recreate the experience at home. Harbin’s goal isn’t just to sell products but evoke a feeling.
A Grecian dreamscape
“I wanted people to walk in and feel like they’re in Greece,” he says. “Even if they’ve never been.”
That sentiment echoes a moment from this reporter’s desert island movie, the 1995 documentary “Unzipped,” where fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi defends his “Nanook of the North”-inspired collection.
Asked why he didn’t travel to Canada for research, Mizrahi replies that in his mind, it’s going to be so much better. His imagination, he argues, is the ultimate design tool.
Harbin relates. “I’ve absorbed so much from books, conversations and parties,” he says. “It’s not about copying Greece, it’s about creating my version of it.”
Specialty food markets are trending in Palm Beach County
The shop also offers fresh coffee and breakfast pastries, adding to its all-day appeal. Harbin was surprised to find customers peeking through the windows before 9 a.m. on opening day. “I figured, let’s give the early hours a try,” he says. “People are curious.”
And while Harbin has a trip to Greece planned for 2026, he’s in no rush.
“It’s my dream,” he says. “But I don’t want to go for just a couple of days. I want to soak it all in.”
Until then, he’s building Greece his way one wedge of feta, one bottle of Santorini wine and one imaginative shelf at a time.
His market joins a growing constellation of specialty food destinations in Palm Beach County, from Indian spice bazaars and Uruguayan food emporiums to produce hubs like Celis and Don Victorio’s.
The area’s appetite for curated culinary experiences is expanding, especially with the eagerly anticipated debut of Eataly at CityPlace. The globally renowned Italian food hall will bring seated restaurants, quick-service counters and a specialty market to the historic Harriet Himmel Theater, further cementing West Palm Beach’s status as a destination for international flavors.
The Little Greek Market: What to know
The Little Greek Market opened September 3.
Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 3238 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach
Website: thelittlegreekmarket.com
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post’s new food & restaurant writer. Care to share news tips about the local dining scene? Please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
Dining and Cooking