VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- A well-known restaurant in Virginia Beach is closing its doors on Saturday.
Athens Pizza, owned and operated by the Anastasopoulos family, will end a 36-year run this weekend.
Kosta and Maria moved to the United States with nothing to their name back in the 1970s. They will leave behind a Parthenon of memories off of Centerville Turnpike.
Known by locals for its Greek-Italian fusion, Athens Pizza has served countless pizzas, gyros, and greek salads with Kosta’s unique house dressing to their loyal customers.
“I have enjoyed coming here for the past 25 years,” said Deloyd Reed, who met her friend, Paula Meadows for lunch on Thursday.
Customers were noticeably patient with a short staff during the lunch rush Thursday.
“We’re missing a couple cooks, so my parents and I are back there doing what we can, making pizzas…making whatever, "said son Alex. "There’s been a little delay on getting the food out, but the customers know and understand the position we're in."
Kosta, who used to work in construction until an injury forced him to leave his job, opened Athens Pizza shortly after.
“My children grew up underneath the ovens from 2-years-old,” Kosta said. “It’s going to be hard for us to adjust to life. I know we're looking forward to retirement, the memories are going to be forever with us.”
The comfortable family atmosphere is what customers said set Athens Pizza apart.
“I’m going to miss the pizza, obviously,” said Paula. “I’m going to miss Alex and the friendships we’ve had.”
Looking back on 36 years of success, Kosta is proud of his family’s accomplishments.
“It’s hard to say goodbye to all the beautiful people… I want to thank God and the customers who have supported us for all those years… Hopefully, we’ll see each other around,” said Kosta.
The family said another pizzeria will move into the vacant building after this weekend.