Popular Family-Owned Pizza & Sub Shop Celebrates 35 Years In Carmel

 Photographer / Michael Durr

The owners and employees at Greek Tony’s Pizza & Sub Shop, 1732 E.116th Street, Carmel, have been serving the Carmel community for  35 years and plan to keep making their delicious food for years to come.

Sally Harris, co-owner of Greek Tony’s Pizza, says she has enjoyed meeting so many wonderful customers over the years.

“My husband, Hugh, and I opened Greek Tony’s in June 1984,” Harris says. “We have always been located in the Woodland Shoppes on the southeast corner of 116th and Rangeline Road, just in different locations within the plaza. First, we were in a small space of just 1,500 square feet in the back corner.”

Eight years later, they moved into a premier space in the front of the plaza, and that’s when the restaurant really began to grow.

“A few years later we added the space next door, our ‘Party Room,’ which seats 80-90 people,” Harris says. “It’s great for business meetings, sports banquets, birthdays, fundraising events, and we’ve even had several wedding rehearsal dinners.”

Loyal customers at Greek Tony’s have continually responded to the restaurant’s delicious ingredients.

“We are family-owned and operated (three generations of the Harris family have worked at the restaurant), for over 35 years,” Harris says. “We make our dough and sauce every day. We cook all of our sausage and bacon on site daily. We have been around for so long that some of the staff members that worked for us in the 1980s and 1990s now have kids that work for us at Greek Tony’s Pizza.”

Harris adds that Carmel has been an ideal location for the restaurant.

“Hugh and I bought a house in Carmel while he was playing with the Indianapolis Racers World Hockey Association (WHA) hockey team,” Harris says. “We decided to stay in Carmel after he retired because we had kids and loved the idea of raising them here. Our location was ideal in proximity to our house. There were very few restaurants in Carmel at the time, and there were not many developments or locations to house a restaurant. We felt as though this community would grow and create great demand for a family pizza joint.”

Harris notes that her daughter, Sara, has worked at Greek Tony’s Pizza for several years.

“Sara has grown up at Greek Tony’s Pizza since she was four years old,” Harris says. “Nobody knows the business better. She started pouring drinks and refills (back when there wasn’t a self serve soda dispenser), washing tables and filling parmesan containers at age 11. Funny enough, her daughter, Maggie, who is seven, loves to come help at the ‘pizza store’ as we call it within the family. Hugh and I have retired, and Sara has decided to take over as the General Operational Manager.”

Harris says the transition at the restaurant has been very easy.

“Sara was already running the shop for several years, along with our other amazing managers,” she says. “She has a great team. Kim Johnson, our daughter, and  Amy Lukowski (who has worked for us for 33 years, and is like a daughter) have been long-term managers as well. We are very happy to have staff members Lucas, Taylor and Hailey (our granddaughter) as well, to help lead the managing team.”

Harris still helps out at Greek Tony’s.

“I do still help with book work, but it is a big relief to have such a solid team running the shop,” Harris says. “We are very happy, after 35 years, to have Sara carry on the business in the family name. It makes all the years of hard work and long hours needed to grow a business worthwhile.”

Customer Favorites

Harris notes that customers have their favorites.

“Breadsticks are a fan favorite,” she says. “They are a must-have. We are sorry in advance because you will crave them. Other favorites are our Chicago Italian Beef and our Greek Salad. The Oil & Vinegar dressing is my daughter Kim’s recipe and made fresh almost daily. Our thin and crispy pizzas are also popular.

“Our Tony’s Deluxe Pizza is ordered as the favorite pizza,” Harris adds. “The oven-baked subs, including the Italian, the Gyro on Pita, and the Stromboli are popular, too.”

Harris has her own favorites.

“My favorite pizza is Sal’s Spice Pie, of course, my namesake,” she says. “I also enjoy Pauline’s Hot New York Italian Fat Boy Pie. My favorites subs are the #2 Italian, #3 Mamas (which is is made of thin-sliced roast beef, mozzarella cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and creamy Italian dressing), and the, #13, Chicago Italian Beef.”

Appreciation to Carmel

Harris has been overwhelmed from all the community support Greek Tony’s has received over the years.

“I feel that opening this restaurant led to a great future with our four children, instilling in them a business mindset and entrepreneurship,” she says. “Sara and Kim are leading Greek Tony’s Pizza into our 36th year of being open for business and growing it every day with their hard work and commitment to quality and service. With all the choices of restaurants and developments in Carmel, we are very appreciative to the community to still be a staple for more than 35 years.”

Greek Tony’s Pizza & Sub Shop is located at 1732 E. 116th Street in Carmel. For more information, visit them online at facebook.com/GreekTonysPizzaandSubShop or give them a call at 317-846-1200.

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