Why House of Pizza is such a beloved landmark in Charlotte’s food scene

Home is where the heart is, and that’s exactly how locals feel at House of Pizza — like they’re at home. A cornerstone of Charlotte’s ever-evolving food scene since 1979, it’s a well-known landmark in East Charlotte.

The original owners, Andy and Tina Gregory, sold the business in 1982 to the family we now know as the faces of the restaurant, the Kakavitsas. (The family had seven siblings who were all born in Greece; the youngest, Maria, was 3 years old when they came to Charlotte.)

In 2001, siblings Maria Psilopoulos, Eleni (Helen) Mitsios and Nick Kakavitsas took the lead on welcoming us into their restaurant. Their great-uncle used to own Tatsis Restaurant — another one of Charlotte’s Classic Eats — and had encouraged their dad to relocate to Charlotte.

“He brought my dad first, and then my dad decided, ‘OK, let’s give it a shot,’ knowing no English, nothing,” Maria said. The family received their Green Cards and all made Charlotte home.

House of Pizza’s dedicated fans

As any local knows, Charlotte’s growth is undeniable and almost indescribable, especially off Central Avenue, where House of Pizza calls home. Amidst the ever-changing landscape of the town, House of Pizza stayed the same until about seven years ago, when the family decided to take on major renovations.

The owners and employees were originally told the work would take anywhere from three to four months, but construction took almost a year — something employees, as well as loyal customers, were surprised to experience. The renovations included a bigger kitchen, a brand-new dining area and a separate entrance at the front for takeout orders.

When they finally reopened the doors at House of Pizza, the outpouring of love from the public surprised employees. “It was amazing, lines out the door,” Psilopoulos told CharlotteFive.

To say the Charlotte community missed the House of Pizza would be an understatement, as customers sometimes waited patiently for nearly two hours to eat. And the lines continued for months — an overwhelming experience for the owners.

Inside the newer digs of House of Pizza, it’s the kind of place where the kitchen spills into a roomy dining area packed with tables. The wall sconces that decorate the place give off a cozy atmosphere and even the steady sound of pizza boxes being folded in the background somehow adds to the charm.

A couple who had just finished their lunch waited to say hello to one of the cooks in the back before departing, showing just how close the connections are here.

Where everyone feels like family

Amy Tower, who has been working at House of Pizza since she was 16, has taken so many orders over the years that she knows half of their customers’ phone numbers.

Not only does Amy feel like part of the family at House of Pizza, but she makes it a point to make the customers feel like family — and they stay in close contact. Even during the 11-month renovations, loyal customers would contact Amy, wondering, “Are you guys open yet?”

Amy came to the House of Pizza as a busgirl, following in the footsteps of her sister, who was already working there. She worked during her high school and college years, left for a couple of years and eventually came back.

Among other duties, Amy is in charge of employees’ birthdays — she keeps a calendar documenting everyone’s day. When there are multiple birthdays close together, they all gather together in the kitchen around a birthday cake that Amy purchases.

To an extent, Amy is surprised herself that she’s still at House of Pizza after all these years. But she acknowledges it’s because the owners are good people, “who make you feel like family.”

Almost 30 years later, Amy is still here, Dean Psilopoulos, Maria’s son, explains. Dean also grew up within the walls of the restaurant. He was always here as a kid and fondly recalls helping his uncles in the back kitchen.

“Well, thinking I was helping (them) with pizza. But really, I was just making a mess with dough,” said Dean, who also worked at the restaurant in high school.

Working with family can have its roses and thorns, but for House of Pizza’s family, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

They have their differences like any family, but five minutes later, it’s done, Maria said. “It’s not something that lingers.”

The family lost brother Nick a year and a half ago, but his heart is still felt at the House of Pizza. Sister Maria was tearful when discussing the loss of her brother.

“Everyone knows me and my sister (and they always did) … Nick never got the fame, but he deserved it,” Maria explained. Nick made sure everyone had everything at House of Pizza. Most of their products are made in-house, and it’s important to have the place run like a well-oiled machine.

“It was a big thing when he passed,” Maria said.

Feeling the loss, nephew Dean gravitated back and helped out where he was needed. “He (Nick) taught me a few things, it was never my plan. But I had to jump in here and learn a little bit from everybody,” he said.

Now, Dean has become the backbone of the restaurant as its general manager, Maria said. He runs the show.

House of Pizza’s food

Even before House of Pizza, cooking and food were always an important part of the Kakavitsas’ family. Maria’s dad worked in a restaurant, as did all of the siblings, with the exception of one sister.

Together, they carefully decided what new items would make the cut when House of Pizza made a change. First, new items would be listed as “specials,” and if they were successful, then they would make a permanent appearance on the menu. The wings, the spinach dip and the chicken Philly are among the dishes that ended up as winners.

And House of Pizza’s most popular dish may surprise you. Despite its focus on pizza, the restaurant’s famous steak Philly sub stands out on top. The steak is cooked fresh on the grill to order, as nothing in the restaurant is preheated. Its sub bread is also so beloved, some customers just come in and purchase loaves freshly delivered from New York.

While pizza is in the name, there are also Greek dishes sprinkled throughout the menu. You’ll find the Greek Submarine Special, Gyro sandwich, Greek salad, Kalamata olives and tzatziki sauce as tasty sides. And to end on a sweet note, baklava is also an option.

Customers are family, too

Regulars return so frequently that the staff members sometimes grow concerned if they haven’t seen a familiar face in a while.

Maria said, “The first thing that crosses your mind is, ‘Are they OK?’” But eventually, whoever they’re thinking of usually pops back around. Dean and Amy agree.

“We have had older folks, who unfortunately have passed, who had been coming here for many, many years,” Maria said, a quiet acknowledgment of the deep connections forged within these walls.

Yet, even as time moves on, the restaurant’s spirit of community endures.

Next time you stop in, make sure to say hello. The warmth of the kitchen — and the hospitality of the staff — are carried with the people of Charlotte, long after they leave House of Pizza.

Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly named the restaurant’s neighborhood.

House of Pizza

Location: 3640 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

Menu

Cuisine: Italian, pizza, Greek

Instagram: @houseofpizzacharlotte

Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.

This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

Katie Black

The Charlotte Observer

Katie Black was born and raised here in Charlotte. A lifelong student of American pop culture, she sees a story in everything. Find her on Instagram @thekatieblackshow.