I don't mean to sound negative or wish someone to be unsuccessful but this quote: "Rozopoulas said that every time he came through town he got the feeling that something was missing from the restaurant scene" baffles me as we have nothing but Pizza/Roast Beef places on practically every corner. Between those types of eateries and Dunkin Donuts we are overrun. I was hoping for something a bit more original. I do wish them luck though.

I agree. I'd like to see something a little more upscale. Besides Foccacia's, there's no place to go for a special night out in Wilmington.

Melissa - you nailed it, thinking the same exact thing!

True.. but he's bringing "a cool, hip, up to date place". Is that code for, 'have a cold draft beer with your pizza' ??

Oh! goody, just what Wilmington needs, another fast food joint selling Pizza,

Am I missing something? If roast beef and subs are supposed to be hip and trendy then Wilmington is Manhattan.

Melissa, you took the words right out of my mouth. Rainydaywoman43, ditto

ANOTHER pizza joint? Very disappointing. "Something was missing from the restaurant scene"- seriously? This place sounds like a clone of Michael's....

Man. You guys really have beef with this place already! (Get it? Beef! Wocka wocka wocka!) Give it a try and you never know, you might end up liking it. After all, you can't judge a beef by it's cover. OK. I've reached my quota of beef jokes for the day!

Wilmington House, Micheal's, Gregs, Sal's, Peter's, Brother's, AJ's, Mia, Santa Maria, Lisa's, Piezano's, Simard's and now Rizzo's. Am I leaving anyone out?

Tough crowd out here - the guy has 2 other successful locations and chose to come to Wilmington to expand. He has the guts to sign a lease on two adjoining buildings (which means double the rent) and is building himself a restaurant to serve the Wilmington residents and others. Any other person or business had the same right to step forward and rent the place which has sat vacant for quite some time. I say cut the guy some slack. A city or town can't deny a license without just cause and I am sure if they did there would be a resident group all over that. The man wants to open a business, serve food, make money and will have to pay local and state taxes, let him do it and don't knock it unless you tried it. It's not as easy as it looks! It's the holidays people, relax a little and grab a slice of pizza!

donuts, pizza, fried meats...well, at least the town board of health will be busy when they launch an anti- obesity campaign.

I was really looking forward to a restaurant ... Not a sub shop.

I'm sure Rizzo's offers a perfectly fine roast beef sandwich/pizza experience, but when their restaurant is added to the multitude of similar places it becomes excessive. Variety is the spice of life.

OH Gee another Sub, Roastbeef , Pizza place , and just thing when Rizzos open Wilmington will be a Hip place , a cool dating place. yep and on all his drive through he knew that was what was missing in wilmington. Oh George where have you been all of Wilmington s life. I agree i wish him Luck in HIs buisness although He gets an A+ in self promotion

No, no real "beef" with this place - I am sure it will be good....it just isn't "what the town was missing". What is missing is a place that is not overally commericalized (i.e. 99/Chili's and even Panera although I like Panera a lot depsite the high in calories for everything) and a step up from fast food. Honestly I was hoping for something that had a sit down, family friendly atmosphere. We are not lacking in pizza places or roast beef/sub places. (In my opinion Lucci's has the best subs). I would have liked to have seen something that was more like the Whole Foods prepared food section where working parents (as an example) and others of course can go in and grab prepared food that is "healthier" with a decent salad and hot bar.

I don't want to wish them failure - I wish them a lot of success - I know I will be trying it when they come around to hopefully see that they are different than all the others.

Best of luck, your not going to hear me complain lets see here, a cool place to get a bite to eat, where you can actually sit down im not sure where else we have that in town other than full scale resturants but how would i know ive only lived here for 50 yrs.sounds like Mancinies back in the day. thanks for giving our town a shot and Melissa go to market basket or luccis or Elias they have all that stuff your looking for.

We need a full service family restaurant similar to Stelio's. Oh, that's right, we DID have a Stelio's. It got torn down and replaced by a 99. Next thing you know they will tear down the 99 and replace it with a trendy new roast beef pizza place.

Jon you have that it's called Rocco's Restaurant. The Ninety Nine caters to families as well. Stelio's was paid well I am sure for selling off to the 99 and Stelio's is back and has been right next store in Billerica. Sounds to me like you have some options here in town and right next store.

Talk about signs of underlying issues you would win the prize George! You post more on Patch than anyone, oh except for Kevin MacDonald. I have lived longer than you and have lived in Wilmington longer than you so that is how I have the history. I am entitled to my opinions and so are you for that matter as twisted as your opinions are. I have no interest in running for office. I have the time, but frankly I am happy with the way things are. If you are so focused on Selectmen seats, why don't you run? Oh yeah, you did and lost, scratch that. Why don't you get Kevin to run, oh yeah he did too and lost! Scratch that too! Better stick with your discovering oil project, oh you lost that too! Better yet, let's stick with the article that this is about just have you focus on your next side of roast beef from Rizzo's when they open. Not too much though, you were looking a little large on TV the other night at the Board of Selectmen meeting so you might want to cut down a little bit!

Sorry Matt, my comments were on topic until I needed to remind George about a few things.

All of the restruants listed by Dennis B are trash compaired to the restruants that George has in Peobody and Salem. (I have been to both) Nothing but great food and amazing service will be to come.

Are you people even serious ?! Wow.
First of all, that list of restutants- half of those aren't even in wilmington. Secondly, for the ones that are (with the exception of Aj's) all the places are complete s^*+holes. They are filthy. Nobody wears gloves. No bathrooms. Rude employees. Inexperienced managers. And most importantly gross "fast food". Before you jump to bitch about "OOMMGGGGGGG anotherrrrrr place in Wilmington" and cry like little whinning kids- go eat at one of his resturants, and THEN argue you don't want it. The day that Simards and Rizzos are in the same category of restaurant is the day Kevin McDonald stops attending town meetings. Absolutely zero comparison. It will NEVER happen.

His food is amazing. I drive from Wilmington to swampscott to eat there. I wouldn't take a rolls Royce's to brothers if YOU were buying. Amd i live 1/2 mile away. His restutants are sports themed. TVs everywhere for you to watch. His peobody store serves beer and wine (not sure about Wilmington). The beef is amazing. pizza is awesome. But more importantly, the restutants are immaculate. The kitchens are spotless. The workers have been with him forever. They are polite, fast, and knowledgable. Honesty I think Rizzos will set the bar for every reasturant in Wilmington to live up to. Par for the coarse in this town would be good thing. The Heath deparent clearly hasn't done a damn thing to keep these other places nice.

Dave M. let me guess you didn't win the SPELLING B in school! Ha ha!

'Tis the season to be jolly...Sounds more like "Bah Humbug"...Let's give Rizzo's a chance and welcome his business into our community...Merry Christmas Everyone

Couple of things about Rizzo's (I've been to both) BESIDES the amazing food?! His kitchen and dining areas are immaculately clean, his staff is clean, polite and efficient. Best of all? Give George a little time and he will know each and every one of his customers by name, he will ask you how your Mother is, your Dad, kids and Grandparents. He will know where you work and will sympathize with whatever ails you. He will delight in you and your family's successes because he cares about people and family.....even yours. I don't know George personally but he sure makes you feel welcome and good service (and amazing food!) is always a priority. Try and find THAT in all the "other pizza and roast beef" joints in Wilmington! So welcome to you George and best of luck, you will do amazing!!