Perry Alpitsis vows to be the top fish and chips place in Orillia.
And he plans on doing that with Uncle Perry’s Fish ‘n’ Chips, which he expects to be open to Orillia residents in the first week of March.
Alpitsis is no stranger to Orillia. The Bancroft resident used to live in Orillia a year and half ago when he bought and set up Flippin’ Eggs on Atherley Road. His son later took over the breakfast diner and Alpitsis returned to Greece, thinking he would retire.
But when his son called him back to Canada to help out with the business, Alpitsis said he wanted to do something of his own.
“At that time, I wanted to do something different, like get out of the breakfast business and do something more easy, like dinner,” he said.
With a place already established in Bancroft, he said he went on the lookout for other property in Orillia, so he could open a fish and chips place.
“I'd been watching that place for a long time,” he said, talking about the former Donut Line building.
The donut business was opened and operated by the same family for about 20 years before they retired. It was taken over by Rob and Sheona Kloostra, but a series of unfortunate events led them to close up shop last year.
That gave Alpitsis the chance to move in and begin renovations so that he could open a Greek-style fish and chips restaurant.
He said the new eatery will reflect his flavour and style.
“When I open that place in Orillia, we're going to have fish and chips, steak, chicken, and free salad bar with your meal,” he said. “What’s better than free salad?”
Commenting on whether it would be difficult to run a successful business on Memorial Avenue, he said, “I think Orillia has grown. It's been dead for a long time and I think now it's growing.”
Alpitsis seemed pretty confident about making it a success.
“Wherever I go, it gets busy,” he said. “I bring the people in. I give them what they want.”
The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner, from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. with a standard menu and daily specials.
“Come and try it,” and Alpitsis. “I guarantee that if they don't like it, then they don't have to pay.”
