Long-time employee now owns George’s House of Pizza in South Glens Falls

Chronicle Staff Writer Ben Westcott writes: Matt Zecchini, a 12-year employee, and his fiancée Hayley Cole took over on March 23 as owners of the House of Pizza in South Glens Falls.

They renamed it George’s House of Pizza in honor of George Katsios, who started the restaurant in 1976 and passed away last February.

His daughter Demi Katsios kept the shop going for a year after his death.

“She is a school teacher in Burnt Hills and never really wanted to own a restaurant,” Mr. Zecchini said. “She talked to all of us, and I was the only one really interested in buying. She wanted to keep it in the family, quote unquote.”

Mr. Zecchini said the restaurant is “kind of a staple here…We have so many locals come in that are regulars.”

“Matthew has worked here forever,” said Ms. Cole. “When we started dating we would hang out here and watch football with George. He had said ‘I would love to own it one day.’”

Mr. Zecchini is a 2009 South High grad. Ms. Cole said she has bartended at Glens Falls Country Club and Southpaw Bistro.

Mr. Zecchini said he wants to keep the restaurant “the same for the most part.” He said you “can’t fix what’s not broken.”

Ms. Cole agreed, “We want to keep everything the same. It’s worked for George for 50 years. Everybody loves the pizza and the wings.”

But she did note, “I want to add grilled chicken and caesar salad.”

And she said she wants the restaurant to be more involved with the community, citing a donation they already made to the South High Marathon Dance.

Mr. Zecchini recalled of the shop’s late founder, “If anybody would come in here when George was around it was dinner and a show; he was yelling at us and this and that.”

Ms. Cole emphasized, “Our employees are the heart and soul of this place….

“I’m so humbled to be working with them every day.” — Ben Westcott

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