‘Tis the East, and great food is the sun! Today we are shining the spotlight on local pizza legend – and one of Westshore Town Centre’s original tenants since 1984 – Romeo’s.
Let’s start at the beginning:
Dimitri Mavrikos and his two brothers, Steve and George, came to Victoria with the dream of opening their restaurant. Their goal was to open a restaurant that not only offers excellent food but great service and a fun casual atmosphere as well. They wanted a place that felt like home and in the summer of 1974, Romeo’s was established in their first home on Hillside Avenue. The Johnson Street location opened soon after, and in the years that followed, the Mavrikos brothers branched out and opened more locations on Vancouver Island by adhering to the same philosophy that had brought them success in the beginning. With the help of their growing young families and new franchisees Nick & Chris Kamaretsos (from the Westshore Town Centre location), the company has grown into where it is today.
Their primary focus was creating signature pizzas and pastas from unique recipes and techniques that had been passed down the family for generations. It is these staples that propelled Romeo’s into popularity and have helped create a passionate local following. The menus also include a variety of popular local dishes, such as steaks, chicken, veal, burgers, and salads, as well as many original dishes from their homeland, Greece. Their pizza and pasta recipes continue to stand the test of time and have garnered many awards and accolades over the years.
And now:
As mentioned above, brothers Nick & Chris Kamaretsos opened the Langford location in 1984, at what was then called CanWest Mall. Since then they’ve been through two major renovations and one expansion into an adjoining retail space that expanded their dining area. They’ve served several generations of families over the years, even going back to when the owners worked at other Romeo’s locations in the mid 70’s. The Kamaretsos family always have been big supporters of the Westshore community and sponsor local sports teams and activities every year.
During the pandemic, Romeo’s has stayed open for take out and delivery, and the owners would like to pass along their thanks to the community for all of the support. The business generated has allowed Romeo’s to stay open and to continue to employ a good portion of their hard working and loyal staff. They are working now to set up to welcome you back into their dining room soon, and they will be thrilled to serve you in person again.
In the meantime, enjoy 10% off all take out orders, and thank you for supporting local businesses!
Source: romeos.ca