Karvelas hopes to be on TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Published 7:00 am Saturday, August 22, 2020

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Local pizza place Karvelas Pizza Co. is campaigning to be on the hit Food Network TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. 

Co-owner Joey Karvelas said they hope the community joins them in their goal to bring show host Guy Fieri to Troup County. 

“We got called from Food Network about a year and a half ago saying they had a ton of fan mail coming to them about us,” Karvelas said. “I got interviewed a few times, and they were filming in Atlanta, but we ended up being too far from Atlanta for them to come.” 

Recently Food Network asked viewers to post their favorite “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” — or as Guy Fieri calls it, “Triple D.”

“We posted our video about the restaurant,” Karvelas said. “I told them that ‘y’all need to get down here and y’all need to come try our restaurant.’ They need to try this out, this is good, this is worthy of driving.” 

Karvelas said their family pizza company is the ‘epitome of the Triple D.’ 

The story of the Karvelas began back when Big Jim Karvelas bought the local pizzeria in the city of Hogansville. 

Fast forward 20 years later and his son Joey Karvelas bought back the town favorite. With a revamped menu, and a new outlook, Karvelas Pizza Co. was created in 2014. 

In 2018, the restaurant moved to a new location and two more Karvelas families joined the crew. 

In under one year, the business expanded to a second location in LaGrange. 

“I’ve been watching the show since I was kid,” Karvelas said. “I really just want for us to be on that show. I think it would be good for Troup County to show we know what we’re doing here in the food world. That’s what we go on vacation for. We go eat to good restaurants.” 

Karvelas said it not only would show off the county’s food skills but also promote tourism in LaGrange and Hogansville. 

“If we get the community to rally behind this and share the post then maybe we can get them down here,” Karvelas said. “I’m certain Guy would love this restaurant, and it would get a lot of attention.” 

The Karvelas family is also currently working on its third location in Newnan. 

“I am a food guy and have been doing this for many years,” Karvelas said. “You have goals in life. One of my goals is to get my pizza place on Triple D. It’s one of my favorite shows.” 

Karvelas said the show also has a sentimental meaning to him as well. 

“Me and my dad used to watch the show all the time together until the day he passed away,” Karvelas said. “I think it’s a unique show. There’s no other show out there like it. It would be great to get him down here and share a beer with Guy Fieri.” 

Video can be seen at youtu.be/6o62NBJWbAw or by going to Joey Karvelas Youtube page. 

Karvelas said he hopes that the community shares it as much as possible to catch the attention of the Food Network.