Olympic Pizza: Over Four Decades of Community-Focused Service

Yianni Xerokostos has been at Olympic Pizza in Columbian Square for more than 40 years. He and his wife Frannie now own the operation that is equal parts family and community oriented.

Generations of customers have patronized the restaurant that has a lengthy menu with pizzeria staples. Some of the specialty pizzas have the names of their children or children of employees.

They family also gives back to Weymouth and Columbian Square. Olympic Pizza stayed open late the day of last week’s blizzard, per the request of City Council member Michael Molisse, to help feed National Grid workers.

Olympic Pizza provides delivery, eat-in and catering. The store, which is located at 15 Union Street, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Call Olympic Pizza at (781) 335-5990.

Frannie Xerkostos recently discussed the store and its connection to Weymouth.

How long have you been here in Weymouth?

My husband has been here at Olympic Pizza for over 40 years. You might want to interview him more (laughs).

Being in this area for such a long time, do you see a lot of repeat customers?

Oh yeah, a lot of repeat customers. Actually, a lot of generational customers. We have them from when they were kids.  It’s just trickled down. It’s the third generation now, I believe.

Wow, that must be fun to see.

It is fun. We have teenagers we used to kick out of here and now they’re grown adults and their kids are coming in (laughs). I’m just teasing you.

How do you give back to the community?

All the kids have gone to school or are still in school here (there are six children in the family). So, we help out the schools. There’s hardly anything we don’t try to help out and contribute to. And I also work on the Community Events Committee for the mayor’s office. I’m also part of the Columbian Square Business Association. I’m the recording secretary for the group. 

What’s the best part of being part of the community here in Columbian Square?

We’re just all close knit. We all keep in touch. If something is going on, one of us will send out an email and let the others know to keep an eye out. It’s like a family; as dysfunctional as we are (laughs).

What are your most popular items here; both for catering and the walk-in restaurant?
We do a lot of catering breakfast. We do the chicken shish kabobs. Those are big for the catering. And here it’s our grilled chicken salad, the Greek, and then the pizzas, buffalo pizza, buffalo fingers, anything buffalo.

How do you differ from other pizzerias in the area?

We just make our dough fresh every day. Everything’s fresh and homemade.

I noticed you sell Olympic Pizza Soda. What’s the story behind that?

We wanted to have our own little go with the soda, so we decided to name the sodas after our kids. We have six kids. They love it. Their friends will come in and grab one of their sodas.

Did the kids get to choose their own flavors?

The kids got to choose their own flavors, except for Danny. He didn’t want it, so I gave him grape soda. He’s sour grapes (laughs).

Do you do any special offers?

A special we have every day is called the 2013. It started off in 2010. It cost $20.10 back then, now it’s $20.13. It’s a large cheese pizza, small chicken finger, small French fry, Greek or tossed salad and a two liter soda. That way, the whole family gets fed and it’s only $20. That’s a really popular seller.