In 2009, Sydney became the home of the Greek Bilingual Bookshop, a Greek bookshop ahead of its time. Set up by the singer/songwriter/author Eleni Elefterias at Stanmore, before moving to Dulwich Hill, the bookshop contained Greek language books, CDs, Greek toys, a café including the best frappe in Sydney, followed by the establishment of performance space which was usually packed out by the La Boite team.
Along with the Zouzounakia Greek program for mums and young children, the bookshop was a hub to support local Greek language initiatives.
With the advent of the Covid era and a developer taking over that part of the chic suburb, the bookshop moved to St Peters, near Sydenham Station. While the premises were smaller, the venue continued to hold occasional La Boite nights, supports local Greek authors and is a home for Greek language.
Almost 12 months ago, the Bilingual Bookshop transitioned from Eleni to Katerina-Aikaterini Vetsikas, a long time Greek language teacher who also works as a project officer for Greek Language at the Sydney Institute of Community Language Education-SICLE at the University of Sydney.
Katerina’s background as an educator and love for books, literature, mythology, poetry, and children’s literature perfectly aligns with running a bilingual bookshop. In an era of supposed declining sales for print books and bookstores, Katerina has taken the plunge to keep flying the flag for Greek book titles.
After 15 years, the bookshop retains Greek, English educational books, novels, fictions, drama, politics, biography, cooking books as well as crosswords and games. Katerina tells me, “we are looking to find bigger space in local “Greek” areas. We have some Great ideas/plans for an everyday bookstore with every corner to be for any age to join us and enjoy the place. The playgroup time will start again next year and all Greek lessons from kindies to primary/secondary and youth/adult age will be continue.”
One of her goals is to promote studying Greek language and culture as it “provides an insight into the origins of Western thought, democracy, and storytelling, preserving a rich cultural and intellectual heritage.”
The Greek language is of course the gateway to ancient philosophers such as Plato and one time Lesvos and Makedonia resident Aristotle who shaped fields such as ethics and politics, while mathematicians such as Pythagoras and Euclid contributed crucial scientific concepts. The Greek alphabet influenced Latin and many modern writing systems, and countless English words have Greek roots, especially in medicine, science, and law. With such a rich history, places like the Bilingual Bookshop, Greek schools and Greek organisations become essential in promoting the Greek language and culture.
Katerina, just like Eleni before her, can also be found holding bookshop stalls at multicultural festivals and writers’ festivals especially the Greek Festival of Sydney and in Melbourne.
Running a Bookshop which doubles as a mini-Greek cultural centre is not exactly going to make millions of Euros! Hence as a Greek community and with Santa starting to read his naughty and nice lists, its incumbent on all of us to get behind the Bilingual Bookshop.
As Santa once told me, there is nothing better than having a Greek book at the bedside table or on a beach somewhere, maybe at Maroubra as we visualise being in Greece again, while sipping a frappe.
One of the most recent additions to the Bilingual Bookshop is the book Whose is this Song? which Eleni has edited and features eleven academics and writers, including yours truly. One for Santa to add to his gift registry.
Our language is important, as is Greek culture. Santa who was originally a Greek from Patara in Asia Minor will be keen to check out the bookshop which will be open Saturdays leading up to his visit on 25 December. You don’t need to be naughty of nice to visit the bookshop.
Opening times 10am – 3pm every Saturday, 180 Unwins Bridge Road, St Peters.
For more information on the Bookshop contact 0410324328.
Bookshop video from last ownership:
*Billy Cotsis is the author of The Aegean Seven Take Back The Stolen Marbles
