One of Orillia's most iconic eateries has a new co-owner.
In September 2022, the Marinakos family announced they would soon be retiring and selling Tops in Pizza after owning and operating the business since 1985.
Earlier this year, Toni Marinakos and her husband, Peter, had a deal in place to sell the business, but at the last minute, Marinakos pulled the plug.
"I wasn't ready to sell," she said. "I took it really hard ... I was having sleepless nights."
Marinakos, 64, says she didn't want to sell her business to just anybody; it had to be someone who was willing to continue the same traditions and values that have made the pizza joint a fan favourite.
"We put a lot of years into the business," she said. "We didn't want to lose the family values that are behind it."
Many customers whose families had been enjoying the restaurant for generations had voiced their displeasure with the possible sale of the business.
"They said it was good for us to retire. They also said it was sad for them to see a staple of this community go," Marinakos said.
After the original deal fell through, the Marinakos family was approached by Laura Martin, whose daughters, Ciara and Thea, have been working at Tops for four and two years, respectively.
"It was the right fit for me to have Laura come into the picture with her family," Marinakos said. "She's like an adopted daughter, and with me being Greek and her being Italian, she has the same values as us."
In June, the a deal was struck with Martin, who now owns 49 per cent of the business. Marinakos is staying put for now and owns the other 51 per cent.
Martin, who was an educational assistant before joining Tops, has no plans of fully taking over the business from Marinakos any time soon.
"I would like to keep Toni on for a minimum of two years," Martin said. "To be truthful, she can stay as long as she wants. We love having her here because she's the heart of the business."
Martin, 44, has an aunt and an uncle who owned a restaurant in Barrie, where she used to work in the summer.
"It was in our family for 20 years," she said. "I've always wanted my own restaurant because I love cooking. It's therapeutic."
Being from Orillia, Martin has love and respect for Tops.
"My family has always come in here because of the way Toni and Peter make it feel like home," she said. "I have old pictures of my kids helping Peter put the stickers on the pizza boxes."
Martin says she will make some changes to the business over time.
"Unfortunately, we do have to change the menu a little bit because of food costs," she said. "In time, we will add a few things."
She believes every business needs to make changes over time in order to grow.
"I have no intentions of doing a full (overhaul)," she said. "We do have to add a few things and change a few things to keep up with everybody."
Martin vows the restaurant will always be the Tops in Pizza the community has known and loved for the past five decades.
