Katouni Street

What I can see

Katouni pedestrian street is at the heart of Ladadika’s nightlife. Cafes, ouzo taverns, restaurants, bars and clubs attract residents from all over the city, students and visitors. On the eastern side of the street, we find buildings of important architects of the interwar period (Rubens, Graikos, Manoussos, Andronikos), but also some newer ones, such as that of Emporiki Bank (Ioannis Vikelas, 1971). Before the fire of 1917, at the crossroad of the old layout of Tsimiski Street with Katouni Street, there was Emporiou Square (i.e. Square of Commerce), which is why on Katouni and Edessis streets we find rare buildings dating before 1917.

What I can't see

It has almost the same layout as the older Gialou Avenue. Wholesale trade developed here during the last Ottoman years of the city. During the interwar period, this was where the cold meat, cheese, butters, liquor and grocery markets were located, while in the post-war era (around 1950), confectioneries, cigarette shops, silversmiths’ workshops and printing houses developed. The name of the street comes from Dimitrios Katounis, tailor by profession and benefactor of the Greek community of Thessaloniki.

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