Η περιοχή – Το χωριό
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".
Η ονομασία Κοκκύμελον
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.
Ο ξενώνας
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.
Τα 6 άνετα δωμάτια που διαθέτει είναι κατασκευασμένα από ξύλο και πέτρα και είναι παραδοσιακά διακοσμημένα με έπιπλα της εποχής και χρωματιστά παντζούρια που ταξιδεύουν τον επισκέπτη σε μια άλλη εποχή.
Οι προκλήσεις
Ο ξενώνας έχει πλέον αποκτήσει μια ξεχωριστή ταυτότητα και το δικό του φανατικό κοινό ταξιδιωτών που το επιλέγουν κάθε φορά που επισκέπτονται την περιοχή για τη διαμονή τους.
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.
Τα γεύματα που θα διατίθενται στους πελάτες της επιχείρησης μάλιστα, δεν είναι ένα κλασικό μενού οικογενειακής ταβέρνας, αλλά γεύματα από παραδοσιακές συνταγές, ιδίως ποντιακές, που συνάδουν με την καταγωγή των κατοίκων του τόπου, οι οποίοι από γενιά σε γενιά τις αξιοποιούν.
Η εύρεση των απαραίτητων πόρων όμως, για τη χρηματοδότηση ενός αντίστοιχου εγχειρήματος την εποχή που ζούμε με τις οικονομικές δυσπραγίες και την αβεβαιότητα, αποτελεί μια δύσκολη και επίπονη διαδικασία.
Αναγνωρίζοντας τη σημασία της επιλογής του κατάλληλου εξειδικευμένου συνεργάτη, η κα. Πετροπούλου εμπιστεύτηκε την ena Σύμβουλοι Ανάπτυξης για την εύρεση του βέλτιστου χρηματοδοτικού προγράμματος για την υλοποίηση της επιχειρηματικής της ιδέας.
Η λύση / Η συμβολή της ena
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.
Προς χρηματοδότηση στη δράση έχουν ενταχθεί δαπάνες που αφορούν ένα ευρύ φάσμα των αναγκών της νέας επένδυσης, όπως κατασκευαστικές εργασίες και εργασίες διαμόρφωσης του περιβάλλοντος χώρου, σταθερός και κινητός εξοπλισμός κουζίνας, τραπεζοκαθίσματα, συστήματα ασφαλείας του χώρου κτλ.
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.
Το μέλλον
Τα μελλοντικά σχέδια της ιδιοκτήτριας για το νέο αναψυκτήριο της είναι πολλά και βασικός στόχος της είναι να παρέχει στους επισκέπτες της, διαμένοντες και μη στον ξενώνα, ποιοτικά, λαχταριστά και υγιεινά γεύματα καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της μέρας.
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.
Η επένδυση αναμένεται να συμβάλει στην περαιτέρω τουριστική ανάπτυξη της περιοχής στην οποία δραστηριοποιείται καθώς θα αποτελέσει σημείο αναφοράς για τους επισκέπτες και η κα. Πετροπούλου έχει κάθε λόγο να κοιτάζει μπροστά με αισιοδοξία.
Τοξότες, Ξάνθης
Τ.Κ. 67100
Τηλ: 25410 93551
Κιν: 693.7377.250
Φαξ: 25410 70281
Email: [email protected]
