When Yiannis Fragiathakis purchased Hatzis Super Market from the original family who had been operating it for more than 20 years, he did some major renovations and renamed the new food emporium Cosmos, to reflect the new world of shopping experiences he was about to provide.

Now, five years later, Mr. Fragiathakis has decided to rename his supermarket Hatzis once again.

 “The Hatzis name has always been an institution in our township, and the surrounding townships,” he said. “The name goes back practically to the origins of Kokkini Hani itself. The surrounding hotels still tell their guests to wait for the bus in front of Hatzis or get off at the Hatzis bus stop.”

While Mr. Fragiathakis figured the Cosmos name was good marketing strategy at the time, he has rethought his original decision, especially in lieu of new competition scheduled to open in the immediate area.

“The competition is out there, and getting more intense,” he said.  “For five years I have worked and will continue to work to the best of my ability to provide excellence, but I will also protect my own rights. Now,” he added with a sly smile, “all the rest of the supermarkets will be just to the right or left or across the road from the Super Market Hatzis.”

 What Mr. Fragiathakis was referring to is the announcement by the Halkiathakis Super Market chain to build a store about 100 meters west of Hatzis, and recent rumours that another chain, as yet unknown, will be coming into the planned mini plaza currently under construction 100 meters east of Hatzis.

A spokesman for the Plevrakis Brothers of Anopoli, builders of the plaza, refused to comment as to what shops have leased space thus far, and has denied any lease by a supermarket.

“There will be about 20 smaller shops in the plaza,” the spokesperson told this newspaper. However, the supermarket rumours persist.

 Meanwhile, Hatzis’ name change has met with almost unanimous approval by the shopping public, according to a random poll conducted by this newspaper among the store’s customers.

Yiorgos Hatzakis, owner of Hatzis Taverna located directly next door to Hatzis Super Market, and brother of the market’s original owner, Maria, also agreed that Mr. Fragiathakis made the right decision in renaming his store.

“This whole area is all Hatzis again, a true landmark of Kokkini Hani,” Mr. Hatzakis said. “It’s just plain good business to have your store rooted in the history of the area.”

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