We recently had the chance to connect with Khatia Pipia and have shared our conversation below.
Khatia, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
At Qvevri, we don’t have customers, we have guests. That’s something I’ve believed in from the very beginning. Our goal was never just to sell products, but to create a place where people feel welcome, connected, and at home.
The most surprising thing I’ve learned is how quickly that feeling became real. Guests come in curious, and often stay to share stories, memories, or just enjoy a warm moment of connection. Some even get emotional when they find something from their childhood, a favorite snack, a familiar chocolate, or a bottle of Georgian wine that reminds them of home.
That’s when I realized Qvevri is more than a market, it’s a space where culture, people, and memories come together. And that’s the most beautiful part of it all.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Khatia Pipia, and together with my husband, we are the proud founders of Qvevri – Georgian & European Market, located in Round Rock, Texas. We run this business as a family, it’s truly our shared dream. My husband and I handle every detail side by side, and our two sons are not just helpers but also our biggest source of motivation and joy. They’ve been part of this journey from the very beginning, helping us build, organize, and grow something meaningful together.
I was born and raised in Georgia, a country known for its deep culture, hospitality, and of course its world-famous wine. After moving to the United States, I carried those values with me: the pride in handmade quality, the love of good food, and the warmth of sharing it with others.
Before opening Qvevri, I ran my creative business, Khatia’s Crafteria, and was featured twice in local magazines for my handcrafted art and personalized gifts. That experience taught me how powerful it is when something made with heart connects to people, and that’s exactly what I wanted to recreate on a bigger scale with Qvevri.
Qvevri is not just a market; it’s an experience that brings a taste of Europe and Georgia to Texas. We offer authentic Georgian wines, premium European foods, cheeses, chocolates, and unique handmade gifts that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Every corner of the shop, from the décor to the product selection, reflects both our heritage and our family’s story.
What makes Qvevri truly special is the feeling behind it, it’s a place created with love, culture, and community in mind. We want every guest who walks in to feel welcomed, inspired, and connected, whether they’re discovering Georgian wine for the first time or finding a favorite snack from their childhood.
✨ At Qvevri, every guest arrives as a visitor but leaves as a friend.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that truly shaped how I see the world was when our family decided to start a new chapter and move from New York to Texas. Life in New York was fast-paced and full of opportunity, but something was missing, that feeling of warmth, connection, and belonging I grew up with in Georgia. We were searching for a place to slow down, raise our children, and truly call home.
I’ve always been someone who creates. Growing up in Georgia, I was surrounded by art and handmade beauty, people crafting, painting, sewing, and sharing stories over food and wine. When my husband and I left our home country to start a new life in the United States with our children, it was both exciting and challenging. We left behind everything familiar but carried with us the traditions, creativity, and warmth that are part of who we are. That transition taught me resilience and reminded me that no matter where life takes you, home can always be built with your own hands and heart.
When we finally moved to Texas, those feelings began to awaken again. The calm and kindness of the community inspired me to create once more. I started small, crafting gifts and personalized art from home, and that little spark grew into Khatia’s Crafteria, my first creative venture. It helped me rediscover my passion and reminded me that art can bridge distance, language, and culture.
Over time, that same passion grew into something even bigger, Qvevri – Georgian & European Market. It’s more than a shop; it’s a reflection of everything that shaped me: my heritage, my art, my family, and my belief that even far from home, we can build something that connects cultures and brings joy to others.
That experience of starting over with a blank page and a big dream changed everything for me. It taught me that every challenge can be turned into creation, and that every new beginning can grow into something beautiful when you pour your heart into it.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I would tell her: “You’re stronger than you think, and every twist in your path is leading you somewhere meaningful, even if you don’t see it yet.”
When I was younger, I often worried about doing everything perfectly and being everything for everyone. I didn’t always trust that things would work out, even though deep down I knew I had big dreams. Looking back now, I wish I could tell that girl to take a deep breath, to believe in herself more, and to know that her hard work, heart, and kindness will carry her exactly where she needs to go.
I built a successful career in Human Resources, and for many years, I helped people grow in their own paths. That work taught me patience, empathy, and leadership — lessons that became the foundation for everything I do now. When I eventually followed my heart into creativity and entrepreneurship, those same values guided me through every new challenge.
But beyond all the titles or achievements, the most meaningful part of my life is being a wife and mother. My husband and our two sons are my greatest source of joy and strength. They’ve supported me in every new chapter, believed in every idea, and given me the love that makes everything possible. My family is my foundation, the reason I dream big, work hard, and create with so much heart.
So I’d tell my younger self: “Don’t be afraid to change direction. Every skill you learn, every experience you collect, every setback you overcome, it all connects later. Keep leading with heart, keep creating, and keep believing.”
Because in the end, that belief, and the courage to start again, is what brought me to where I am today, building Qvevri with love, family, and purpose.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The project I’m most deeply committed to, for as long as it takes, is Qvevri – Georgian & European Market. Qvevri isn’t just a business; it’s a dream that carries my family’s heart and my cultural roots. It represents everything I believe in, creativity, hospitality, community, and connection.
From the very beginning, I wanted Qvevri to be more than a market. I wanted it to feel like home. One of my favorite parts of our shop is the Welcome Wall; a wall I designed with words like “Hello,” “Welcome,” and “Thank You” written in many European and Georgian languages. The idea was simple but meaningful: that every guest who steps inside feels personally greeted, seen, and appreciated in their own language. It creates a sense of home and belonging, a space where cultures meet and hearts connect, right here in Round Rock.
For me, Qvevri is not just about selling products — it’s about building a bridge between people, traditions, and stories. It’s a lifelong project, one that I’ll keep nurturing and growing with love and patience. I want my children to see that dreams take time, but when they’re built with family, faith, and heart, they become something truly lasting.
So no matter how long it takes, I’ll continue shaping Qvevri into a place where culture lives, stories are shared, and every guest feels at home.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say that I lived with heart, that everything I built, created, and shared came from a place of love, care, and connection.
I want my story to be one of the courage of a woman who left her homeland, carried her roots across the world, and built something meaningful with her family in a new country. I want people to remember that I never stopped believing in the beauty of creating, even when life got hard.
More than anything, I hope people will say that I made them feel welcome. That I made them smile, that I brought something warm and familiar into their lives, whether through a handcrafted gift, a kind word, or a shared glass of Georgian wine.
Qvevri is more than a market; it’s my family’s story written in colors, flavors, and culture. It’s the legacy I hope to leave behind, a place where people from different backgrounds feel connected, where traditions are honored, and where every guest feels at home.
When I’m gone, I hope people will remember me as someone who loved deeply, created fearlessly, and believed that kindness, culture, and family can build something lasting. Because in the end, that’s what truly matters, not what we own, but the love and meaning we leave behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.qvevrimarket.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qvevrimarket/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khatiapipia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579385281147
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/khatiascrafteria/
