A very QVM Christmas: Two beloved traders keep tradition alive

As Christmas approaches, Queen Victoria Market is buzzing with colour, energy and the festive traditions that make it one of Melbourne’s most cherished destinations.

Among the traders preparing for the rush, two long-standing favourites – Out of the Blue Seafood and W.R King Smallgoods – are gearing up to deliver the fresh, the festive and the unforgettable, each bringing decades of craft and community spirit to the season.

For Savva from Out of the Blue Seafood, Christmas is not just a busy period – it is another chapter in a 42-year family legacy.

His grandfather started the business, his father Kon Giannoukas continued it, and today Savva proudly stands behind the counter beside his Dad, carrying forward a tradition built on one fundamental principle: “We don’t sell any imported products – only high-quality Australian seafood. None of the low-grade stuff.”

Their focus on freshness is clear the moment you walk past their impressive displays. Prawns, crayfish and oysters take centre stage, and their oyster bar – operating for the past four years – offers six to seven varieties daily, all shucked on-site.

This festive season, customers can look forward to cooked and raw Spencer Gulf king prawns, local crayfish, snapper, salmon and plenty of oysters sourced entirely from Australian waters.

Savva has also expanded the offering to include ready-made favourites like scallops with caviar, tuna, kingfish, cooked lobsters and prepared prawns. “We’re adapting to the times,” he says, though the ethos remains the same: all Australian, all premium.

What Savva values most, however, is the connection with people.

The atmosphere is what I love most. We meet new customers and engage with regulars who’ve been supporting us for over 30 years.

For him, the business “feels like it’s been running forever,” but the pride he feels remains as fresh as the seafood he sells.

Just a few aisles away, another QVM mainstay is preparing for its busiest and most joyful time of year. Robert from W.R King Smallgoods has been part of the market for more than three decades, having started at age 15 alongside his mother, Antonia.

“I’ve been here ever since,” he says proudly. Today, his stall is known for its wide range of smoked and cured meats – bacon, ham, salami, kransky, chorizo, kabana, prosciutto, turkey, smoked hocks and more – all offered with the same ethos he’s held since day one: “we’re selling quality products at reasonable prices. We are affordable for the everyday person.”

Christmas is especially significant for Robert, who is already preparing hundreds of their Paramount-brand hams on the bone – a Christmas staple eagerly pre-ordered each year by loyal customers.

“It’s a special time of year,” he says. “We look forward to getting into the spirit of Christmas and the spirit of giving.”

Like Savva, Robert speaks fondly of the market community.

“First and foremost, I like meeting different personalities. You meet people and serve them as customers, and then over time they end up becoming friends.”

The camaraderie among traders only strengthens the magic. “We’re all one big family looking after each other.”

Together, Out of the Blue Seafood and W.R King Smallgoods represent the heart of Queen Victoria Market – generations of knowledge, unwavering commitment to quality and the warm, familiar connections that keep Melbourne locals coming back.

This Christmas, whether it’s a show-stopping seafood spread or a traditional ham on the table, these two traders are ready to help make the season memorable in the way only QVM can. •