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Date: 6/14/2023
BELCHERTOWN – Sleigh City Pizza Co. is coming to Belchertown this summer.
The new pizza shop will be located at 145 N. Main St., unit A.
Kelly Gidopoulous and fiancé Eric Jolin have both worked in restaurants their entire lives and are looking forward to the opportunity to bring Sleigh City Pizza to Belchertown.
Jolin is a fine dining chef and Gidopoulous has worked in food service all her life.
Gidopoulous said that after stepping away from the first restaurant she opened in 2013, she went back to school to get her degree but missed the restaurant business.
“We are all in,” Gidopoulous added.
Belchertown residents often express that there is no need for more pizza places in town, but Gidopoulous said that Sleigh City offers more than just pizza.
The menu includes appetizers and sides like chicken wings, fried mozzarella and calamari, fresh salads, gourmet pizza, sandwiches, burgers and dinner entrees.
Gidopoulous said, “We didn’t want to be just another pizza shop. We thought even though it is takeout and delivery right now, when the time does come, we won’t have a lot of seating however just because it is takeout, does not mean we should sacrifice, and people should expect the same old pizza and grinders. We wanted to offer something different, a little bit more and something with quality and fresh ingredients.”
She added that although Sleigh City Pizza will not be a designated allergen free restaurant, the menu will offer vegetarian and gluten friendly items and are “happy to substitute and work with people who have dietary restrictions.”
When the restaurant opens this summer, it will be primarily takeout and delivery due to unforeseen circumstances with no access to customer restrooms yet.
Gidopoulous said she is happy with the location and looks forward to learning more about the town and meeting the residents.
“We found this spot on a whim. We have never been to Belchertown but love the town and everything about it. I loved all the open land and the farms. We took drives around the area and were so impressed. There are so many new subdivisions and developments. It seems like the town is blowing up with people but is a little bit of a food desert. Everyone here has also been so incredibly friendly,” Gidopoulous added.
The location used to be a Pizza Hut in 2019 which made the construction process easier since the building already had a walk-in cooler and other things needed for Sleigh City Pizza.
Gidopoulous said she is just waiting to hear from the Board of Health, the town and building inspector before getting the green light to open.
She said she is eager to start welcoming in customers and has her fingers crossed to be open by the latest, July 1.
Gidopoulous said, “Just being open and having people walk in the door. I think for me that’s what I think about a lot is that first time the door opens, and someone comes in to place and order. It will make me feel like we crossed a threshold.”
For updates on a grand opening date, Gidopoulous said you can visit sleighcitypizzaco.com or their Facebook page.