The Area – The Village
At the foothills of the Rhodope Mountains, where the great life-giving river Nestos flows out from the narrow paths of its meanders into the plain to refresh the Thracian Sea, stands the village of Toxotes.
In this beautiful land, amidst a landscape shaped by pine-covered hills, olive groves, poplars, wild fig trees, brambles, and wild rose bushes, just 12 kilometers from the city of Xanthi, lies the traditional guesthouse "Kokkymelon".
The name Kokkymelon
Because the wood of the Kokkymelon (wild plum tree) is traditionally used for the construction of kementzedes, the beloved Pontian lyres! Thus, the tree not only offers its fragrant blossoms and sweet fruit each year but also becomes a symbol of cultural continuity and musical tradition — deeply rooted in the history and soul of the Pontian people.
The kokkymelo (wild plum tree) is considered the most suitable wood for crafting the Pontian lyra, as it is hard and produces a strong yet sweet sound.
The Guesthouse
The modern yet traditional guesthouse "Kokkymelon" opened its doors to visitors in 2008, in the area of Toxotes, Xanthi, located very close to the banks of the Nestos River. It is a stone-built traditional building, fully renovated with contemporary techniques, standing proudly in the area and offering a pleasant and comfortable stay in the heart of nature.
The "Kokkymelon" guesthouse consists of an estate that has gained new life in recent years and a complex of three stone-built buildings, constructed with river stones and jointed with lime mortar by skilled craftsmen from Kastoria.
The building once belonged to Topats Ali, a prominent tobacco producer who employed 40 workers and used the structures to support the cultivation that spanned the entire estate up to the hills across the way. It was during the prosperous era when one oka of tobacco was worth a gold sovereign.
Today, the owner, Mrs. Eleni Petropoulou, driven by her love for old buildings, has renovated the two-story structure on the northern side, preserving both its exterior façade and much of its original interior layout. Features such as the wooden staircase and the iron window grills remain from the original construction.
The guesthouse serves as a magnet for nature lovers, offering visitors the opportunity to experience traditional architecture while combining their stay with a wide range of activities.
The 6 comfortable rooms are built from wood and stone, traditionally decorated with period furniture and colorful shutters that transport the visitor to another era.
The Challenges
The guesthouse has now acquired a distinct identity and its own loyal group of travelers who choose it every time they visit the area for their stay.
The next step for Ms. Petropoulou was clear. Wishing to offer her guests a complete accommodation experience—and to create a meeting point for travelers visiting the area as well as locals from nearby villages, such as families who choose the Nestos River trails for their short getaways from the urban environment—she decided to set up a small refreshment café in the welcoming garden of the guesthouse, nestled among trees and flowers. This charming spot offers moments of coolness and relaxation, along with traditional delicacies made from local products, available on weekends.
With the addition of the refreshment café activity, the business will further enhance the services already offered to the guesthouse’s visitors, while also providing an extra option for the residents of the wider area to enjoy local flavors.
The refreshment café will offer all meals (breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner) to both resident and non-resident guests of the guesthouse. From the very beginning of this endeavor, the owner was more than enthusiastic about the idea of extending her renowned hospitality to even more visitors.
The meals offered to the guests of the business are far from the typical family tavern menu. Instead, they are based on traditional recipes—especially Pontic ones—that reflect the heritage of the local community, passed down and cherished from generation to generation.
However, securing the necessary resources to finance such an endeavor in today’s climate of economic hardship and uncertainty is a challenging and demanding process.
Recognizing the importance of choosing the right specialized partner, Ms. Petropoulou placed her trust in ena Development Consultants to identify the most suitable funding program for the implementation of her business idea.
The Solution / ena's Contribution
Mrs. Petropoulou's business vision was transformed by the experienced consultants of ena Development Consultants into a comprehensive investment plan with 55% funding, which has already been approved for implementation under Measure 19 LEADER/CLLD of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 for Rodopi and Xanthi.
The funding under the programme covers a wide range of expenses necessary for the new investment, including construction works, landscaping, fixed and mobile kitchen equipment, furniture (tables and chairs), security systems, and more.
The application for inclusion in the funding programme was prepared by Lampros Exioglou, a Specialised Development Consultant for the Primary Sector at ena Development Consultants, with extensive experience in the submission and implementation of projects under the Rural Development Programme.
The Future
The owner's future plans for her new refreshment café are numerous, with her main goal being to offer her guests—both those staying at the guesthouse and others—high-quality, delicious, and healthy meals throughout the day.
In the coming period, Ms. Petropoulou aims to cater to the majority of the guesthouse’s overnight stays by offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She also seeks to attract a wide range of visitors who are not staying at the guesthouse, inviting them to enjoy the refreshment cafe’s exquisite traditional flavors and local products.
In addition, the business and its new unit (the refreshment café) are expected to be promoted through the new website of “Kokkimelon,” which is also among the owner’s immediate future plans and will be developed by ena Development Consultants.
Ms. Petropoulou recently inaugurated her beautiful new space, inviting the team of ena Development Consultants to a delightful brunch featuring fine, handmade traditional beverages, delicacies, and sweets.
The Marketing Department of ena Development Consultants, on behalf of the entire ena team, would like to sincerely thank Ms. Petropoulou for the unique experience, the wonderful flavors, and the warm hospitality she so generously offered us. We wish her great success and will always stand by her side, supporting every effort toward achieving her development goals.
The investment is expected to contribute to the further tourism development of the area in which it operates, as it will become a point of reference for visitors. Ms. Petropoulou has every reason to look ahead with optimism.
Toxotes, Xanthi
Τ.Κ. 67100
Tel: +30 25410 93551
Mob: +30 693 7377 250
Fax: +30 25410 70281
Email: [email protected]
