Business Conversations: When You're in the Mood for a Big Pizza Pie, That's Amore

Joseph Akiki, owner of Amore Pizza is tossing the dough for a fresh pizza as he talked to Stoneham Patch about his restaurant. He is visibly proud of the cleanliness and the care put into making this shop one of the best pizza places in Stoneham. For the past four years, Amore has served pizza, subs, salads, Middle Eastern food, coffee, ice cream and weekend breakfast to loyal customers in downtown Stoneham.

SP: What makes your shop different than the local pizza shops?

JA: That is a tough question. I think it is that this is a family owned business and I am here every single day. Pretty much everything is made here in the back from scratch. It is also the cleanest place. Our reputation keeps our customers coming back again and again.

SP: So you have a fair bit of repeat customers?

JA: Well, you were hear yesterday…

SP: This is true.

JA: People come in day after day, they get sick of what they normally get and I make them something new. Even I get tired of the normal menu because I’m here day after day. So I make something new. I try to share the new stuff with repeat customers to show them that we’re able to make them whatever they want.

SP: Have you always worked as a cook?

JA: No. No. I was a taxi driver in Boston for a long time and then I worked for a friend at a pizza shop in Boston and I liked it. So I bought this place. I’ve been cooking about nine years now. If you do something you like, you’ll succeed. That’s why I love what I do. That’s why I’m here everyday.

At this point, Joseph asks me to come back into the kitchen area to see how clean and organized the fresh cut vegetables are, how every container is labeled, and how the dough is made.

Watching a chef enjoy his work is a lot like watching an artist as work. Joseph Akiki takes his most recent masterpiece out of the over, cuts it in eighths, and puts it in the box for the customer.