The inspiring story of the Pat’s Pizza restaurant family begins not here in Swedesboro, but instead across the cerulean seas, in Greece. It was there that Tony Kotanidis made his decision to head to America, hoping to make a living and support his family. While here in the US, a family member living in Pennsville told Mr. Kotanidis about a small pizza shop that was listed for sale there. In 1974, Kotanidis had to make a choice: stay in America and purchase the pizza shop, or return to Greece with the money he’d made and raise his family there. He made the decision to stay, and purchased the shop with family members Joe Demourtzidis and John Karakasidis. They revamped the brand and created a new menu, and with that, Pat’s Pizza as we know it today was born.
Image courtesy Pat’s Pizza
Over the next few years, Pat’s Pizza began to expand. The family opened new stores in Salem City and Swedesboro, keeping the same menu and customer satisfaction centered approach. Joined in ownership by Tony Kotanidis’ daughter Alexia and her husband Theo Roustopoulos, their mission has remained simple: Fresh food made with the highest quality ingredients, delivered on time. Through the next few decades, Pat’s Pizza opened additional stores in other cities, and now boasts 54 storefronts, all owned by immediate and extended family members. The company celebrated its 40th anniversary this year- no easy feat in a region where good pizza is king.
The company’s success rests upon its dedication to quality food. Fresh dough is made on site each day, and specialty blends of cheeses are used on all of the pizzas. Pat’s Pizza even owns its own proprietary pizza sauce, and has it specially produced solely for use in company shops. There are a number of delicious pizzas to try, from the newer rustic style pie, a crispy crust with sharp provolone added in the cheese mix and the classic thicker Pat’s crust to the more traditional pepperoni variety.
Image courtesy Pat’s Pizza
Aside from a variety of traditional and stuffed pizzas, the menu boasts freshly prepared salads, wraps, cheesesteaks and hoagies, hot wings, cheeseburgers, and even gourmet sandwiches on artisan breads. They’ve even got something for the sweet tooth in all of us- patrons can choose from several treats such as cheesecake, Oreo pie, and delicious Opa-Yo frozen yogurt.
Image courtesy Pat’s Pizza
The Pat’s Pizza motto is “Not a Franchise, Just a Family”, and to that end, the company values quality and customer service over quantity, adhering to a strict set of guidelines in all of its stores. When asked to pick a most loved menu item, the Roustopouloses had a hard time narrowing down to a single choice. Aside from their go-to favorite of pizza, Theo recommends trying the 8-ounce deluxe burger, which customers can order to their preference. Alexia enjoys topping her pizza with green peppers, onions, and anchovies, and encourages customers to try different topping combinations to discover new favorites.
Pat’s Pizza’s Swedesboro location resides at 1423 Kings Highway, along the center business district. They can be reached via telephone at 856-467-1188, and customers can also place orders online at www.patsfamilyrestaurant.com. Be sure to check your mailbox often for coupons and the latest menu, and don’t forget to sign up in store or online for your free Pat’s Pizza loyalty card- customers receive 30 bonus points just for signing up, earn points with every order, and get $10 back for every 200 points earned.
Thank you Theo and Alexia for taking the time to share with us the history behind Pat’s Pizza!