Date: Fri 30-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

snapshot-Jimmy-Antonopoulos

Full Text:

SNAPHOT: JIMMY ANTONOPOULOS

Occupation: Restaurant owner and pizza maker. I have two restaurants - Mona

Lisa and Pizza Palace. [At Pizza Palace] we have pizza, 35 dinner specials,

and the regular menu.

How long in Newtown: Thirteen years. I'm from Kalamata, Greece. I went to

Canada in 1972, then I came to the United States November, 1973, when my

sister sponsored me.

Where did you learn your restaurant skills: The same day I came from Canada, I

started to work at a restaurant my sister and brother-in-law owned - East

Avenue Pizza. They hired me to do everything from making pizza to dishwashing.

I worked for a lot of places to learn the business - Duchess, two-three pizza

places, a seafood restaurant in Stamford. Newtown has wonderful people, very

nice and very kind. People have been very supportive and I appreciate it.

Favorite food: My favorite food is pizza, Grecian pizza. It has feta, fresh

tomatoes, oregano and mozzarella on top, with white sauce. It's very good.

Family: I am married. My wife is Efie Antonopoulos; she works as hostess and

cashier sometimes [at Pizza Palace]. She can make pizza, too. I have two kids

- Nick is 16, and Peter is 14«.

Pets: I have a dog - a beagle - and five puppies.

Hobbies: Playing soccer and work. I love what I do. That was my goal, to

someday have my own restaurant.

Biggest change in Newtown: A lot of people coming into town, the development.

The addition to the library and schools, and the sewers - that will make

things better.

Clubs/Organizations: Newtown Chamber of Commerce. And we support the soccer

teams. I used to belong to Newtown's Over 40's Soccer Team.

Personal philosophy/goal: I am working so hard to give my sons the best

education. I want to give them good roots and good wings for when they are

ready to fly in life. If you put a stick next to a tree, it will grow nice and

straight. It is hard to make a tree straight after it has grown up and is

already [bent]. And I want to establish some income for me when I get older.

It's very important to be honest and do the job right. I learned three things

when I came here: Work hard, when you talk to somebody don't be afraid to look

them straight in the eyes, and to appreciate things in life.