Meet Pete
In 1963 Pete and his family emigrated from Greece. He was 15 years old and couldn’t speak a word of English but that didn’t stop him from pursuing an education. He finished high school in 4 years and then went on to receive an architectural engineering degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago. In between all of that Pete got married to his wonderful wife Ellie and had 4 kids in 5 years.
Meet Pete
With architectural jobs dwindling in an economic downturn, Pete had to find another way to support his ever growing family. He opened his first Pete’s Fruit Market in Waukegan Illinois in 1976. Those first years were a struggle, but with Pete’s determination and perseverance, it became a successful business.
Meet Pete
Pete always had dreams of opening a store in Wisconsin. After selling the Waukegan store, he set his sights on Milwaukee. He started in 1992 on 16th and Greenfield as an open air market during the spring and summer months. After customer prompting, the store was enclosed allowing it to stay open all year around.
Meet Pete
Pete’s has expanded a few more times since then, always catering to the culturally diverse neighborhood. He has set himself apart from the competition with his passion and drive to sell the best quality produce at the best price.
Meet Pete
All four of Pete’s kids and even 2 son-in-laws are involved in the business. Pete’s Fruit Market embodies the term “family business” and hopes to continue the tradition of quality produce at the best price for years to come!