Celebrating 100 Years with Athenian Candle
Located on the southwest corner of Halsted Street and Jackson Boulevard, Athenian Candle has been a staple in the Greektown community for more than 100 years. The fourth-generation, family-owned shop traces its roots to Greece, and it is the oldest original business in Greektown. The shop produces thousands of hand-dipped beeswax and paraffin candles a week, from eight inches long to five feet high, and ships them to various Orthodox churches and other customers throughout North America.
On July 7, Sam T. Godelas, who ran the shop as the oldest child of a Greek immigrant family, passed away at 97. Sam sacrificed his dreams of being a chemist and devoted his life to the shop. He worked for the family business alongside his wife, Angela, until 1982 when he sold the business to his sister, Jean and brother-in-law, Thomas Paspalas, who continue to operate it with their children and grandchildren today. You can read more about Sam and his family in a recent Chicago Sun-Times article linked here.
Join the community in celebrating Athenian Candle’s 100 year anniversary by visiting the shop today!
