Aegean Pizza Set To Close Next Week

HOLBROOK, NY — The Aegean Italian & Greek Pizzeria at Sun-Vet Mall is set to close next Saturday, according to the owners who put up a social media post Monday thanking customers for their years of patronage.

For nearly 50 years, the pizzeria has been an institution in Holbrook and the greater Suffolk County area, said the post.

“It is with a great sense of sadness,” said the post “that we write today to let you know that our beloved Aegean Pizza will close its doors permanently on August 6th.

“We live in extraordinary times, which have made it impossible for us to keep Aegean’s doors open, and keep providing the same high quality of serving that you became familiar with over the last five decades.”

Harry Rossis, one of the owners, told Patch on Thursday that the mall was sold to developers so he has no choice but to leave the pizzeria, located at 58-01 Sunrise Hwy., next week.

“I’m so overwhelmed,” said Rossis. “I’m prepping food because people have been supporting us like crazy.”

Rossis, who says that he loves the support from his customers, has been working at the pizzeria since 1989 alongside the former owner’s son John Zaoutis, whom he considers to be like a brother. In 2013, he bought into the store and now they run the store together as the former owner, Elias Zaoutis, has retired in Greece.

“It’s unbelievable how people are pouring in, it’s kind of mind boggling,” said Rossis. “Over the last couple of days the prep is more than double than we are used to.”

Rossis and his business partner haven’t had time to think about a new location, because they are sad the mall is closing.

“I had planned on retiring from here and that dream of mine is shot,” said Rossis.

Rossis suspected something was going on at Sun-Vet because the owner of the mall was not renewing leases for several stores this year and did not make any efforts to bring in new stores.

“We knew something was up,” said Rossis.

Rossis doesn’t blame Covid-19, per se, for the closures, but believes it probably sped up the issues that were already at the mall.

“I think that had something to do with it, but over the years the mall itself didn’t do justice to the tenants that were here,” said Rossis. “People had inquired and they shot it down. I don’t know how long they had this in their plans.”

Rossis does hope to find a new place for Aegean soon.