The letter is dated January 31, 1949, Rome. “Dear Evangelos,” it begins. “I will not be back for a long time. I will continue my journey to other parts of Europe so that I can be fully trained in the techniques of our business, and we can present products that are perfect in every respect once I return to Greece. Kisses, Nikos.”
The dining room table of the Papadopoulos family, laid out for a big Sunday meal, is the centerpiece of the Benaki Museum’s impressive and original new exhibition, “Papadopoulos 100: The Story of the Company 1922-2022.” Arranged around the table in an orderly fashion, the chairs look like they’re waiting for the guests to arrive, pull them out and bring the stage-like setting to life.
Displayed on the ground floor of the museum’s Pireos Street annex, it is a familiar setting that puts the visitor instantly at ease, making you feel like a guest in a private home. And like a close friend, you can also peek through the half-open door into the elegantly lit office of Evangelos I. Papadopoulos, with its heavy wooden furniture and old black typewriter.
