Loukas Pozio, owner of Chelbys Pizza on Mammoth Road. Photo/Stacy Harrison

MANCHESTER, NH – If you’re from Manchester, you’re likely familiar with Chelbys Food & Drink, which has been a city staple for almost half a century.

The restaurant, which was established in 1976, has changed ownership multiple times and gone through several renovations and remodeling projects over the years.

Now Chelbys’ current owners, Loukas and Effie Pozios, a young family who moved from Greece to pursue their American dream, decided it was time for their restaurant to undergo another makeover.

New bench seating along the windows is part of an interior refresh at Chelbys Pizza. Photo/Carol Robidoux

The Pozios shut down shop on Oct. 5 for nearly two weeks to gut the old decor and give the restaurant a new and more modern look.

On Friday, Oct. 17, Chelbys reopened to the public after what Loukas Pozios referred to as “a team effort” that employed the help from the restaurant’s cooking staff, as well as family and friends, in order to complete the renovations in a timely manner.

Brothers Tom, left, James, center and Pete Pineault have found the high-top table for six in the bar area to be a great spot for catching up on a recent afternoon. Not pictured: Brother Fred. Said Tom, “He’s working. We’re retired.” Photo/Carol Robidoux

Matty Juno, left, and Mike Creeden said they appreciate the new look inside Chelbys. Photo/Carol Robidoux

“In our culture, in Greece, restaurants keep things up to date because we want to give back to our customers,” said Loukas Pozios, who has owned the restaurant with his wife for nearly two years. “It’s about hospitality. We want to offer our customers a beautiful place to be in.”

The overhaul involved replacing and upgrading the carpets, the tables—including a high-top table in the bar— new lighting, a new ceiling and new chairs and stools, as well as coats of fresh paint with a different color scheme and wainscoting.

While updating and refreshing the inside of the building, Pozios said that he wanted to remain mindful of the regular customers who have grown to love Chelbys and its ambience long before the change in ownership.

New paint, carpeting, decor, tables and chairs make everything seem different, yet familiar. Photo/Stacy Harrison

The refresh at Chelbys is a way of giving back to his customers, says Loukos Pozios. Photo/Stacy Harrison

There is still plenty of room to spread out, whether you sit in the dining room area or the bar. And the Keno machine – a popular draw – has only moved across the room. Photo/Carol Robidoux

“We wanted to freshen the look, but the ambience will stay the same,” Pozios said. “We felt that our customers deserved that.”

But, for the Pozioses, who have roots in the Queen City, they’re looking toward a future where their restaurant continues to offer Greek-inspired dishes on “Greek Thursdays” along with the main American-style menu that includes pizzas, burgers and sandwiches.

More importantly, Pozios said that he wants Chelbys to continue to be a place where everyone feels welcome.

“This was our dream coming from Greece,” he said. “From the day I walked into Chelbys, it felt like this was for me. I put my soul into Chelbys, and I’m very passionate about it. We want to thank the community that supports us. Chelbys was, and still is, ‘the place to be.’”

Located on 284 Mammoth Road, Chelbys is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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