A beloved Jamaica Plain pizzeria is making a return—this time under familiar ownership.
Ideal Pizza, originally opened by Gervasios Papadopoulos and his family in 1998, is being revived by Gervasios’ son, Panagiotis, in the same 484 Centre St space, according to a report from Universal Hub. Although Panagiotis was reluctant to part with the restaurant in 2022, he felt it was the right decision at the time.
“After many years of running it as a family business, we decided to sell it,” Panagiotis told What Now Boston. “My father wanted to retire and I didn’t think I could do it by myself.”
Unfortunately, the buyer they sold to ended up abandoning the store, leaving the space shuttered by July 2024. But Panagiotis couldn’t stay away. He began working on a plan to bring the pizzeria back last fall and finally received the green light earlier this week, when the Zoning Board of Appeals approved his application to reopen the eatery under a new name: Pete’s A Pizza.
“I missed the community of Jamaica Plain,” he said. “They’ve been so supportive over the 30-plus years we’ve been there. People just stop in, say hi, and look at the progress that’s been going on inside the shop.”
Pete’s A Pizza will feature a menu reminiscent of the original Ideal Pizza, offering plenty of pies, calzones, specialty wraps, hot and cold subs, and salads. Diners can also expect hearty options such as steak tips, wings, tenders, pasta, and ravioli, plus a selection of desserts like cheesecake and baklava.
Panagiotis has already given the space a light refresh, including a fresh coat of paint. He’s awaiting additional approvals before finalizing a reopening date, so stay tuned for updates as Ideal Pizza is reborn as Pete’s A Pizza in the heart of Jamaica Plain.
