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Business and Work
In 1939-40, the North Common Village Project scattered the long-time Greek residents from the Acre. Most small businesses moved or closed: a handful held on to serve the greater community. Elsewhere in the city Greeks made an impressive imprint, with the Boston Confectionary, George’s
Textiles, and Laganas Shoe Co. As the economy declined and business owners aged, many of these businesses closed. But a younger generation of entrepreneurs created new companies that brought hundreds of jobs to the area: the Demoulas’ employed 1,500 in their supermarkets by 1970; Vess Chigas and George Behrakis founded multi-million dollar firms; and the Anton family
greatly expanded their father’s cleaning business.

Malliaros family offer men’s and women’s
clothing at their store on Merrimack St., circa 1960’s.

Telemachus "Mike" (left) and George Demoulas (right) are shown at the opening of the first chain
of supermarkets, Dummer Street, Lowell, early 1950’s. (Courtesy Lowell Sun)

Vessarios "Vess" Chigas. co-founder of Microwave Associates, one of the largest electronic firms in New England, circa 1960.

Alex Michaels learns his father’s tailor profession — London Tailor Shop in 1970’s circa 1960.

Charles Antonopoulos, center, patriarch, with his sons and grandsons, who expanded the family
cleaning business under the name Anton’s Cleaners, 1970

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