Sammy's Southport Pizza is Back in Business

The much-beloved Sammy’s Southport Pizza, which was destroyed by a disastrous fire last year, has reopened.

It had a “soft opening” on Thursday, June 25, and the official grand re-opening was held on Monday afternoon.

Following the fire last year, the community rallied around owner Sammy Palik and his family.

Led by the Reverend Laura Whitmore of the Southport Congregational Church, an impromptu benefit (held in the Chase Bank parking lot during a heavy rain storm) raised about $30,000 to help Palik, his wife and four children, according to Joyce Hergenhan, a friend of Palik’s who helped with the volunteer efforts.

Rebuilding the restaurant took longer than anticipated, due to a series of complications — none of them Palik’s fault, Hergenhan said.

The rebuilt restaurant has a much roomier interior than the original… with several more tables. The menu (and the food), is the same as it was before.

Located at 295 Pequot Avenue in Southport Center, Sammy’s has been a friendly, family-oriented fixture in Southport for more than 10 years.

Owner Sammy Palik says the re-opened restaurant “will be just like it was before, only better.”