Apollo's Pizza & Pasta Changes Owners, But Little Else

After 38 years of running , Konstantinos Filippopoulos, better known to his loyal patrons as “Dino,” has sold the iconic Simsbury institution and retired — in a manner of speaking.

Although two new owners, life-long Simsbury resident Mike Del Gallo and his business partner, Paul Magro, took over the restaurant and the adjacent on Aug. 11, Apollo’s regulars may be hard-pressed to notice any difference as they can still find Dino where he’s always been — front and center in one of the town’s most beloved eateries.

Even though some might expect to find him relaxing on a Florida beach or playing golf in his retirement, the 66-year-old Dino, with his familiar smile, accommodating personality and thick Greek accent still spends his days greeting customers, providing guidance for the Apollo’s new owners and even stepping into the kitchen to cook if needed.

Not only has the familiar face of Apollo’s stayed the same, but according to Dino and Del Gallo, customers can still expect the same dining experience that has made the restaurant a Simsbury fixture for nearly four decades.

“We’re not going to subtract anything, just add,” Del Gallo said. “Mostly, we’re just operating as is. We’re not going to put a manager in place and disappear. We have the same staff, same food and same environment that’s always been here.”

While Del Gallo said he plans to offer a Sunday brunch, an expanded wine list and a few specialty menu items, he insists that customers can still expect the same pleasant dining experience that they’ve always enjoyed.

According to Dino, creating that kind of dining experience means offering people a family atmosphere, reasonable prices, delicious food and most importantly — a welcoming environment, all of which comes natural to him.

“To work in a restaurant, you’ve got to love people,” he said. “I try to make my customers feel like family, and to me, they are family. If you develop trust, if they know you personally, they know the food will always be good and that’s why they will come back.”

With some of his customers continually returning to his restaurant since its doors first opened in 1973, Dino has clearly found the right approach to business. 

“Some people will open a shop or a restaurant and they try to get rich quick,” he said. “Those people always end up closing after a couple of years. You’ll never find success doing that. You have to do what you love. If you really want to make people happy and be part of the community, then you’ll be successful.”

Whatever the formula, Dino has found success in Simsbury since he first purchased Apollo’s in 1973 at the age of 28. From a modest pizzeria serving only pizza and grinders, Dino set about expanding the restaurant, adding more seating, building a patio and eventually purchasing the historic Maple Tree Café. As Apollo’s expanded so did the menu, from a basic selection, they now serve a variety of Italian, Greek and American food to the acclaim of their customers.

“The French onion soup is to die for,” said Mary Wiseman of Avon. “My husband and I have been coming here for over 20 years, we absolutely love it. We always get great service and Dino is always so friendly to us; we’re really gonna miss him.”

Even though many of Apollo’s customers worry that Dino will leave town, he insists that the restaurant, the customers and the people of Simsbury will always be an important part of his life.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Dino said. “This is my home and these are my friends. I’m not going to leave my friends. I just need a vacation.”