Our Story
The Story Behind ILARÓ
and aka “Panagiotogyrofetamihalopoulos”
The video that started it all
(Click image to see video)
ILARÓ comes from the ancient Greek word ilarós, meaning cheerful. It’s also the root of the English word “hilarious,” a connection to the comedic content created by the founder Pano. Pano's parents embodied this spirit every day. His father, Kostas, built King Souvlaki from the ground up through tireless hard work. He often worked 16-hour days, seven days a week, and even 24-hour shifts when needed. With his bright smile, strong communication skills, and warm personality, he made every room louder and every table happier. He was known for drawing in crowds of customers while quietly donating to hospitals, first responders, and the homeless, all without ever asking for anything in return or seeking publicity.
That’s the whole idea behind this community. It’s meant to create a “cheerful” community where people can have fun, laugh, connect through events, and give back to one another.
Pano's mother, from the culinary island of Sifnos, brought the same grace and strength. She raised four hard-working children, always opening her heart and her table with love and quiet resilience. Together they inspired Pano to become the first in his family to graduate college as an engineer. Growing up between his father's Greek food truck and his mother's island kitchen, he learned the power of good food and the joy of bringing people together.
For years, Pano carried the idea of ILARÓ in the back of his mind as a fun community where people could come together to laugh, eat, and celebrate their culture. While working as a software engineer, he drove back to New York every weekend to create content and help at King Souvlaki. One viral video opened doors, but he kept building with the same passion his parents showed. ILARÓ is more than a Greek brand. It is the cheerful (ilaró), loving, welcoming community and lifestyle he set out to create, one that inherits the values his parents instilled in him.
Through our events and merchandise, people can wear our culture proudly and represent the meaning behind ILARÓ: cheerfulness, good food, strong community, and, most importantly, giving back, as mentioned in the Bible verse shown below.
The Word That Defines Us
The Word Behind Everything
ILARÓ · Ιλαρός
from the Greek ilarós: cheerful, merry, glad.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
“ἕκαστος καθὼς προῄρηται τῇ καρδίᾳ, μὴ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· ἱλαρὸν (ILARÓS) γὰρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ θεός.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Join Discord