Business Profile: Newtown Square Pizza and Grill

by Craig Whitney

Photos courtesy of Dimitri Mylonas

Newtown Square Pizza and Grill is a local takeout and delivery shop owned and run by Dimitri Mylonas. They offer a mouthwatering array of pizzas, appetizers, hot/cold subs and sandwiches, burgers, chicken dishes, Italian and Greek dinners and salads. Many of those tasty items are also available on their catering menu.

Dimitri, a first-generation American, was born and raised in the Newtown Square area. His grandfather risked everything to move his family from Greece to America. Raised on the ethics of hard work and a passion for quality service, Dimitri has the pizza business etched into his DNA.

Pizzas fresh & made to order! Our pizza is made on site daily using the finest ingredient dough, mouth-watering sauce, 100% of specially blended Wisconsin cheeses and outrageous quantities of special choice toppings.

I was always drawn to it,” Dimitri stated energetically. “I love when it gets busy and everyone hustles. We get to joke around and have fun together.”

This business has always felt like an extension of home for Dimitri. Throughout his childhood, he always helped out in the pizza shop his father Alexios Mylonas, owned. Eventually, Dimitri became an employee there. He also spent several years working for his Uncle Gus, who owned a nearby pizza shop.

Uncle Gus influenced me a lot. He had a strong work ethic and always brought in a positive attitude,” Dimitri explained. “He taught me a lot about quality and how to treat people – not just your customers, but your employees too.”

From Greece to Newtown Square

Dimitri’s father and his five siblings all came to America from Greece in the 1960’s. Dimitri’s grandfather, Giannis Mylonas, was 50 years old at the time, and had raised his children in a small Greek village of about 150 people. Because the family was relatively poor and there were few opportunities to succeed there, Giannis made the very difficult decision to pick up everything and leave for America.

My grandfather could have easily decided to stay in Greece and live out the rest of his life in that village,” Dimitri explained with pride. “But he had a vision for his children and wasn’t going to just stay where he was comfortable.”

Dimitri’s grandfather couldn’t speak much English, and their traveling expenses left him with very little money. But he did have a vision, and as soon as he arrived in the Newtown Square area in the late 1960’s, he began working hard to set his children up for success. He helped them start their own businesses and continued to support them until they started to see the fruits of their labors.

Dimitri holding his daughter Vivian, and his wife, Eleni, holding their son, Stephen

The determined work ethic that passed down through the generations is clearly present at Newtown Square Pizza. Every employee is friendly and focused, with a steadfast commitment to the customer. There’s laughter around the store as people are constantly cooking up something by the pizza ovens or the grill, or having a conversation with the customers. Even new employees quickly feel like part of the family.

We’re a small mom-and-pop shop. We try to treat everyone like family,” Dimitri beamed. “I feel like the business has taken off since we started, and that takes a whole group of committed people.”

One customer shared online a story of Newtown Square Pizza’s exceptional service. Their order was delayed during the dinner rush one Friday night, potentially lost in the commotion around the store. The customer called the store back and explained the situation, now nearing the 7pm peak rush. Thirty minutes later, a manager from Newtown Square Pizza arrived at their door with their order in hand, insisting it be on the house.

Yes, we occasionally make mistakes with our customers,” Dimitri explained. “A mistake is just an opportunity to go the extra mile to make things right. Instead of getting upset or feeling bad, we just do whatever we can do to make it right. That is something I stress to all the employees here.”

From L to R: Stavros Hotz, Steve Papadopoulos, Dimitri Mylonas, Bill Cincotta

Dimitri was eager to speak about each employee on his team and why they are so valued there. He started with Bill Cincotta, a long-time Newtown Square local who has worked for the company longer than Dimitri has owned it. “Bill always comes to work with a positive attitude and a sharp eye for detail,” Dimitri raved.

Steve Papadopoulos works there in a prep role. He has worked in the food industry for decades and has held every possible pizza job. Steve’s extensive experience is obvious and greatly valued. “As a 27-year-old trying to learn how to run this business,” Dimitri explained, “I was very lucky to have Steve to lean on. He was always there to listen and give advice. I’ve learned so much from him, more than I could ever repay him for.”

Made-to-order hot & cold subs

Stavros Hotz, who goes by Stav, started working for Newtown Square Pizza at age 21. Dimitri sees a lot of himself and his family in Stav, a young man who moved from Greece to America just two years ago, eager to learn everything he can to succeed. “There was a time when Stav could barely cook a mozzarella stick,” Dimitri laughed. “But now, just a couple years later, he can run circles around everyone here.”

Dimitri makes it very clear that he not only appreciates his employees but sees a piece of himself in all of them. Only two generations removed from his father’s small village in Greece, Dimitri has a strong determination to succeed in this business.

There were other options in his life: Dimitri’s parents even insisted he go to school for accounting and then use that degree to get a job with his cousin. But he knew that serving the Newtown Square hometown community with quality pizza and exceptional customer service is in his blood.

Home-grown, hardworking small businesses like Newtown Square Pizza are what make Newtown Square such a caring and connected community.

Newtown Square Pizza

610-353-4234

3113 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square

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www.NewtownSquarePizza.com