Pizza Restaurant Owners Open Third Site In South Windsor

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Opening a restaurant is always a tough business, but opening a new eatery in the midst of a global pandemic can be downright overwhelming. The owners of a new pizza shop on Sullivan Ave. are optimistic, however, that their years of experience and dedication to quality will help them overcome the challenges that have been thrust in their way.

Chris and Joanne Giotsas, owners of Joe Pizza locations in Canton and Simsbury, have opened their third location at 855 Sullivan Ave., which had been the longtime site of the Red Onion Pizzeria & Restaurant until closing in April 2019. Shortly after beginning renovation work, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic changed everything for the couple.

"We signed the lease in January, then we got hit with the COVID-19 situation in the middle of construction," Chris Giotsas said. "We had put in a full bar and painted the interior, but we didn't actually get to open until May 21, and then were only allowed takeout and delivery before finally getting to have in-house seating."

The original Joe Pizza opened on Route 44 in Canton in 2003, then a second site was established in the center of Simsbury in 2009. Its name derived from slang terminology for someone who is an expert in a field, e.g. Joe Plumber or Joe Baseball.

"One of my original partners was a chef at the ESPN cafeteria, and they used to call him 'Joe Pizza', hence the name," Giotsas said.

Among the advantages the couple feels sets Joe Pizza above other restaurants is the long tenures of its key employees, who along with their customers are referenced as members of "the Joe Pizza family."

"My pizza guy has been with me for 14 years, and most of my cooks have been here 10 to 12 years," Giotsas said. "It's one less headache; you don't have to worry about turnover and training someone new."

His wife added, "All of our cooks have been with us at our other two locations."

In addition to a variety of pizzas, the restaurant is noted for its fresh ground burgers. "When we first opened in Canton, people said we should be called Joe Burger instead of Joe Pizza," Giotsas said.

Several items not found in many other dining establishments are eggplant fries and fresh, homemade meatballs. Other popular menu selections are tortellini, chicken parmesan and Philly cheesesteak.

Despite the years of experience and tremendous success of its two original locations, the hurdles the couple has been forced to endure has made getting off the ground in South Windsor tougher than anticipated.

"It's been tough to get people through the door, being new and not knowing the community and people not really knowing us, whereas our other two locations are doing great," Giotsas said. "Business is staying relatively steady, but we're trying to pick it up. We've been putting out flyers and coupons, and started a rewards program to establish some repeat clientele."

The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. More information may be found at www.joe-pizza.com.

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