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The Kalogeromitros family has owned at least one business in Stanly County since 1991. Now with two businesses, one broke ground Friday on a new warehouse facility.

Dino and Jimmy Kalogeromitros opened Blue Bay restaurant that year, which now is at 1940 E. Main St. in Albemarle, at the corner of N.C. Highway 24-27/73 and N.C. Highway 740.

One of Dino’s sons, Nick, and Nick’s cousin, John, started Albemarle Paper Supply in 2009 in a facility rented from their parents next door to Blue Bay.

The company has grown from that 5,000-square-foot space to its current location at 735 Henson St. The current warehouse has 22,000 square feet of space for the  products the company sells, such as food containers, condiments, paper towels, pizza boxes, plates and cutlery for events, along with 3,000 square feet for offices.

Speaking before the groundbreaking ceremony, Nick said the day was “the culmination of celebration of all of us. This is not just Nick and John. This is our parents, our brothers, the employees, support from the city, support from the county.”

Nick also credited Southside Constructors and group manager Eric Koulpasis, saying he was happy with the company’s communication, honesty and transparency.

Koulpasis credited Albemarle city staff, whom he said have been “incredible on helping us get everything through so we can get started quick and get these guys open in the fall.”

The new 30,000-square-foot warehouse will connect with the back part of Albemarle Paper’s existing warehouse.

Nick, in a recent interview, also said his company wants to “continue to create jobs and opportunities in Stanly County, which is why we stayed here. We didn’t want to move…our company has grown 15 years straight.”

“Stanly County has been so good to my cousin and I over the last 15 years,” Nick said. “I feel indebted to give back.”