Passing of the Torch at Rt. 1 Liquor Mart, Remembering Old Businesses, and More Regional Business News

Remember These Old Easton Businesses? 

Over 150 commenters chimed in on Easton Patch’s Facebook Page about which businesses no longer in town they missed the most. It was incredible to see the memories people had of Easton’s history, whether it was the local ice cream shoppe or their favorite place to grab a slice a pizza as a child that’s no longer in existence.

Remember These Old Easton Businesses?

The discussion began on Norton Patch’s Facebook Page and then carried over onto Norton Patch: which Norton business that’s no longer around do you miss most? Places like the Norton Flea Market and the Village Pub were mentioned, and people can still comment on which business they miss the most.

Attleboro’s Best Pizza... According to Yelp

For many people, Yelp is the ultimate authority on where to eat, where to get a haircut, what park to visit and just about everything else. With customer reviews and ratings, some businesses flourish and die based on what Yelp users think and tell the world about them.

But how reliable is Yelp? That is a matter of opinion. A recent review of the top pizza places in Attleboro based on Yelp ratings came up with some interesting answers.

After more than 40 years in business, Route 1 Liquor Mart owner James Civilinski is retiring and handing over the 29 Washington St. business to his sons, Derek, 40 and Marc, 42.“I often said when I hit 65 I would be fully retired,” Civilinski. “Now I’m 70 and I think it’s time to move on and do other things.”Foxborough's Board of Selectmen reviewed – and approved – the liquor store’s application for change of manager, new officer/director and transfer stock of an all alcohol package store license Tuesday. The transition will become official after the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission approves the request.Derek and Marc Civilinski will each take over 50 percent ownership of the business with Derek serving as president and Marc as treasurer and secretary. Both will also serve as directors."[Business is] going from completely in Jim’s control to completely in the boys’ control,” said Civilinski’s attorney Phillip Macchi of Macchi Law in Norwood. “Derek has been working with the business for over 16 years and Marc has been there longer.”

Sharon's Pizzigando a True Labor of Love

Phil Papadopoulos has been working in the pizza business for decades and he says working for yourself is better than anything.

“It’s the best way to go,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, but it goes to whatever you put into it. Your hard work isn’t working for someone else.”

Papadopoulos owns Pizzigando Cafe in Sharon.He said he started working at pizza shops in high school and throughout college. He said he went to school for computer programming, but found it difficult to juggle a family with an entry level position.

“I was doing good, but I was already married when I was a senior in college,” he said. “It was difficult to make it on that salary, even though for one person starting out the money was good.”

He said his father and his sister were running a pizza shop in Brighton when he came to the business, but they all saw something better in Sharon.

“In 1988, we bought the Sharon House of Pizza and Upton Coffee Shop,” he said. “In 1995 we moved here, gutted and basically started from scratch.”

Papadopoulos said he loves the business and is looking to buy another location. He said he opened another shop in Brockton in 2005 and ran both shops until 2005, when the landlord bought him to make room for a national company.