From the small village of Evrytania to the Marvel cinematic universe: The Greek pastry chef behind the legendary “Peter Pan Donut” in Brooklyn.
A true story of perseverance, Greek hard work, and entrepreneurial success unfolds behind the windows of the famous Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop in Brooklyn, New York. Its owner, Christos Siafakas, started out in the small village of Evrytania and managed not only to build one of the most famous donut businesses in New York, but also to see his shop star in one of the most commercial films of all time: Spider-Man: No Way Home. in one of the highest-grossing films of all time: Spider-Man: No Way Home.
From a Greek tragedy to the American Promised Land
Christos’ life changed dramatically in 1963, when landslides in his village caused the death of 13 people and led to its abandonment. With this traumatic springboard, he made the big decision to emigrate. He first came to Athens, and in 1970 he began his life in America.
Like thousands of other Greek immigrants, he started at the bottom. He washed dishes while studying to become an engineer. But necessity led him elsewhere: to nighttime pastry workshops, where he began making donuts.
The secret to success: handmade, high-quality donuts
Shortly before the 1980s, Christos Siafakas opened his first business. A decade later, he sold his original store and invested in Peter Pan Donut. It was a neglected shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, owned by a third-generation Italian. Christos believed in its potential and transformed it.
“I put real chocolate in the donuts. No cheap ingredients. I wanted quality, even if it meant less profit. Whatever we can do by hand, we do. The only machine we have is a mixer,” he told Kathimerini newspaper.
How the shop got into Spider-Man
Peter Pan Donut has now become world famous. Marvel chose the shop for the filming of the final scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home. With Zendaya wearing the shop’s uniform. The film grossed nearly $2 billion internationally and turned this small Greek bakery into a cinematic icon.
“They wanted to close it for a day, but I refused. The customer is what keeps it alive. In the end, we filmed for three days. For a few hours at a time. The scene was authentic. They managed to capture the atmosphere. Zendaya loved our uniform and kept it as a souvenir,” recounts the owner.
The family continuation of a Greek success story
Today, Christos enjoys his success by watching his wife and two sons continue the family tradition in the shop. He spends several months each year in Greece, at his home in Saronida, but his heart remains in New York.
“My soul is in the shop. That’s where my life is,” he says with emotion.
A modern Greek hero of the diaspora
The story of Christos Siafakas is an example for every Greek in the diaspora. His weapons are quality, perseverance, and ethics. He managed to write his own unique story on the other side of the Atlantic—and bring the sweet taste of Greece to the world of cinema.