Sophie's Pizza Place in Easton a True Family Business

Sophie Devaney said she and her family have been working on pizza since she was 13, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Shortly after college I was working at a bank, and it was a kind of sit down job in customer service like we’re doing here,” she said. “I wanted to try something different, as I grew up in this business. I found myself coming back to it.”

Devaney said she just wanted something with a quicker pace, and found it again at Sophie’s Pizza.

“I just love the atmosphere, the running around and the fast-paced environment,” she said.

Sophie’s Pizza Place opened in April in 2008 in Easton, but Devaney said her family had owned a pizza place in Norwood for 23 years.

“This opportunity came up and we thought we’d broaden our exposure for a bit,” she said.

She added it is a family business, and her father named the restaurant after her.

“I run the place and he named it after me, which is the sweetest thing on the planet,” she said.

Devaney said she loved working in Town Pizza in Norwood because it was a real people-person creating experience.

“I have fond memories of it,” she said. “It was fun being around food, seeing the regulars and eventually everybody kind of becomes family. My brother was born when we first opened that place, and we both grew up in it.”

Devaney said she has heard the long hours of a restaurant can put a strain on a family relationship, but it hadn’t happened in her family.

“I get to see my mom and dad everyday even though I moved out 15 years ago,” she said.

Devaney said her favorite part of the business is the creative aspect. She loves creating new sandwiches and pizzas that haven’t either caught on yet or been invented.

“We try to take a look at our menu and reevaluate it every year,” she said. “We just came out with six new gourmet pizzas. It comes from going to other places and seeing what our customers are doing. They said ‘Why aren’t you doing a chicken bacon ranch pizza?’ for instance. We did, and now it’s one of our best sellers.”

She is currently working on desert pizzas, like a smores pizza.

“It really is amazing,” she said. “I’m trying to narrow down ideas to a few things that I think would be the most popular.”

She added being creative in the restaurant business is very important, as people are always looking for something new.

“People get bored with the same food over and over,” she said. “We’re constantly searching and trying different things. When you get sick of something you try something different. I actually have a customer who always gets a scallop and shrimp pizza. He’s always asking when I’m going to put it up on the menu.”

Sophie’s sponsors both Pop Warner youth football and youth baseball teams. Devaney said it’s great when the teams give them plaques for their participation.

“The kids love it when they come in here and say ‘Oh my God we’re on the wall!’” she said.

She added they also donate to Southeastern Regional Vocational School.

Sophie’s Pizza is located on 479 Turnpike St. and is open Mon - Thu, 11am - 9 pm; Fri - Sat, 11am - 10pm; Sun, noon - 8pm.