At Ease: How Gregorys Coffee CEO Greg Zamfotis Dresses Down

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Gregorys Coffee is a GQ-approved coffee shop chain in N.Y.C. that balances a quality product with a smart approach to design. A case in point: its logo, which is two coffee cups that form the glasses of the bespectacled founder combined with his spiky-haired silhouette. The Gregory behind the coffee, Greg Zamfotis, has attracted attention not just because as an independent business owner going up against the big guys, but also because he’s as meticulous about menswear as he is about brewing methods and roasting beans.

We caught up with Zamfotis at his Battery Park pad—early in the day for us, but just about in the middle of his—where we got a glimpse of how he spends his down time, and what he wears off the clock. He answered the door clad in a patched-up, paint-stained J.Crew sweatshirt and crisp white Thom Browne oord worn over a pair of black trousers from cult designer Boris Bidjan Saberi and broken-in Viberg boots. It’s a look that blends the best of off-duty style with Zamfotis’s penchant for high-end men’s fashion, and definitely speaks to his taste. Here’s what a true man at ease looks like.


GQ: What is your typical morning like?

Greg Zamfotis: I usually get up around 5-5:30 a.m. and try to get into the shops definitely before 7. People drink coffee in the morning, so I need to get there before to make sure everything’s going right. We start rockin’ and rollin’ around 7-7:30. I don’t have to necessarily be in the shops—we have more than one—but I like to wander around and make sure things are going good, and if anyone has any issues, it’s good for me to be around.

GQ: What do you normally wear when you have to go to work?

Greg Zamfotis: It’s a nice little mix. I get suited up if I’m dealing with lawyers or landlords. I’m a New York-certified, bar-approved lawyer. I never actually practiced though. I went straight to the food service industry. Specifically coffee, obviously.

GQ: From "bar" to "barista," you might say?

Greg Zamfotis: Exactly. So I was already preparing for life in a suit in a different kind of way—and it’s funny when I’m behind the bar making coffees in a suit, people are kind of like "what’s going on over here?" But I try not to do that too often when I’m wearing my really nice stuff. Normally I like to mix denim with nice oords, stuff I can beat up and is easy to wash. I don’t have to worry about if it’s wrinkled or not. It’s always a mid bag depending on what I’m doing. Usually I like to keep things pretty tight, clean, and organized.

GQ: Does your style change when the weekend hits?

Greg Zamfotis: The funny thing is I work seven days a week, but on the weekend it’s a little bit less stressful. I have a little bit less going on so I can let more of my casual side come out and I definitely get more cozy. You know, maybe bust out some nice tailored sweatpants.

GQ: Who are your go-to brands for sweatpants right now?

Greg Zamfotis: I’ve got some from John Elliott, Thom Browne, and Rick Owens. I’ve also been wearing my Thom Browne oord shirts a lot lately, I have like ten. I just rotate them constantly, they’re my go-to.

GQ: We’ve also spotted you in Visvim on TV. When do you pull those pieces out?

Greg Zamfotis: Yeah my Visvim one is for special occasions, when I want to go a little bit bananas. I’m 90% sure I’m never going to get it dirty. They all need to be handwashed, you can’t put them in the washing machine otherwise it’ll ruin the fabric. So, of course the last time I wore it I got sprinkled with some espresso and I was pretty disappointed. Now it’s a little bit more worn in.

GQ: Because you’re running around all day, what are your essential shoes?

Greg Zamfotis: I used to wear a lot of wingtips—I have this pair of vintage Florsheim Imperial wing tips. They’re great, they look really cool, but after like 8 hours on my feet, they don’t feel too great. I’ve also got a few pairs of Aldens and some Edward Green stuff. Lately, I’ve been finding myself in work boots because I’m on construction sites building new stores, or comfortable sneakers because I’m on my feet 12-13 hours a day. These custom Viberg work boots are really comfortable though. They have a Dainite sole. If I could, I’d have everything made on a Dainite sole.

GQ: You’ve also got a pretty impressive sneaker collection.

Greg Zamfotis: I have a pair of Outlier sneakers that I love, and obviously all my Nikes. Nike has a million chukkas and Frees that are super comfortable during the day. And I’ve also got my Jordans—but I’m also not trying to get those too dirty, because I’m trying to keep those crispy. That’s important.