Eric Papachristos

Eric Papachristos, a native of Boston with a rich cultural heritage from Thessaloniki, Greece, is a renowned restaurateur whose passion for the hospitality industry traces back to his childhood experiences. He completed his academic journey with a Bachelors and Masters in Business Administration from Suffolk University, followed by a Masters of Science in Finance from Northeastern University.

Eric's early exposure to the world of hospitality began when his family moved to America. His father opened and successfully ran their family restaurant, Niko’s, where Eric worked throughout junior high and high school. This family business not only instilled in him a passion for hard work and an entrepreneurial mindset but also reinforced his family and cultural values. It was this early experience that laid the foundation for his future ventures.

Adding to these formative experiences were the summers spent in Greece, watching his grandmothers cook with ingredients from their backyard. These memories played a pivotal role in inspiring Eric to create a culinary oasis for Boston.

Eric's professional career includes significant roles in finance, starting as the Financial Business Manager at Harvard University and later as a Financial Manager at Ropes & Gray from 2005 to 2010. These positions honed his financial expertise, which he later applied in his entrepreneurial ventures.

His first major foray into the hospitality industry was with the establishment and partnership of Gypsy Bar in Boston, operational from 2004 to 2019. Following this, he launched TRADE, Porto, Saloniki Greek, and The Venetian, each becoming a hallmark of Boston’s culinary scene. The Venetian, especially, reflects his commitment to community revitalization in his hometown of Weymouth.

Eric's role as a guest lecturer at Suffolk University allows him to impart real-world business knowledge to students, combining academic theory with practical insights. His real estate project in Weymouth, Massachusetts, demonstrates his diverse business capabilities, featuring a brand new development of 200 residential units and retail spaces, and includes three new restaurants from Eric’s portfolio.

The eagerly anticipated "La Padrona" at the Raffles Hotel, set to open in spring 2024, promises to be another significant achievement in his impressive career. Eric is not only a successful businessman but also a community-minded individual. As a leader in the Pan-Mass Challenge, his team has raised over $1 million for The Dana Farber Cancer Institute over 14 consecutive years.

Eric's substantial influence in Boston’s culinary and business worlds has earned him a spot in Boston Magazine's "Top 100 Influential Bostonians" for several years.