Pizza + Persian food restaurant closes after ‘many beautiful years’ in Matthews
Athens Pizza & Kabob has officially closed its doors “after many beautiful years.”
Known for serving up gourmet pies alongside Middle Eastern fare, the Matthews restaurant held its final service on Sunday, Jan. 4, according to a message shared on its Facebook page.
A reason for the closure wasn’t made public, though owner Ameneh Pirhayali confirmed eminent domain is to blame.
“They want to widen the road, and they told me I had to leave,” Pirhayali told CharlotteFive in a phone interview, noting that she’s been in that spot for nearly 19 years.
“I really loved my restaurant,” she said. “It was like my baby.”
Local love for Athens Pizza & Kabob
Over the weekend, regulars at Athens Pizza bid a final farewell to the neighborhood restaurant. The bittersweet send off was marked with warm hugs, tears and gifts from locals who have enjoyed many a meal at the eatery since its opening.
“They brought be flowers, wine, tequila, cards...” Pirhayali told CharlotteFive. “They gave me cash. It was really emotional.”
Some customers even left with mementos, taking the numbers off of their favorite tables.
Pirhayali, who’s Iranian, put a Persian twist on the menu when she took over Athens Pizza in 2007, CharlotteFive previously reported. Customers enjoyed classic dishes such as kabobs, gyro wraps and kashke bademjan.
Fried chicken, pasta and calzones were also on the menu alongside a variety of pizza options. The House Special, made with pepperoni, sausage, ground beef, ham, salami, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and a “touch of extra cheese,” was a crowd favorite.
“It’s a really hard job, but I have a passion for it,” Pirhayali said. “I cook everything with love. High quality is very important to me. Every day we made everything fresh.”
The final days at Athens Pizza were spent “honoring the memories, the flavors, and the loyal guests who became family,” she wrote on Facebook announcing the closure.
So what’s next? Pirhayali said she plans to reopen under a new name but admits it will be tough considering she’s doing everything herself.
“We’ll have to put everything in storage (for now) until I can find a new place,” she said.
Athens Pizza & Kabob
Location: 2920 Old Monroe Rd, Matthews, NC 28104 (permanently closed)
Cuisine: Pizza, pasta + Persian cuisine
Instagram: @athenspizza_kabob
This story was originally published January 5, 2026 at 10:37 AM.