By Caitlin Reidy
Family, culture, and hospitality are just some of the satisfying ingredients you’ll find at Village Pizza in
Sterling, Massachusetts.
When I first walked into the popular, family-run business, I thought I would be conducting an interview.
Instead, however, I received quite the experience.
Nabil Bekhit, the new owner of Village Pizza, and his brother, Mina, sat me down, showed me around,
and dived into the ins and outs of business, family, and of course, pizza!
Nabil purchased Village Pizza just a few months ago from the previous owners, Arthur and Gianna
Angelis. The family-run establishment on Worcester Street has been a staple of Sterling for nearly four
decades. Nabil stated that it was “important for Arthur to know that the business would be run right.”
Being a family-run business for decades, both Nabil and Mina emphasized that the family component was
a necessary ingredient for the trusted and successful business to continue.
When I asked what else was changing about the business, both brothers simultaneously exclaimed that all
recipes are “staying the same.” They enthusiastically added that this includes the celebrated house
dressing, the homemade sauce, and the delectable pizza dough that is famous throughout Sterling and
Worcester County.
“I started working here [at Village Pizza] a few months before the transfer of ownership,” Nabil stated.
He also said that he sat down with the previous owner and learned the business, the customers, and the
“secrets” of Village Pizza. “I got to know the customers and enjoyed the regulars and newcomers that
walked through these doors.”
Nabil and Mina offered me a sample of the appetizing house dressing during our conversation. With a
tangy and mouthwatering flavor, I asked about the ingredients that make this dressing so popular. With
just a taste of this special seasoning, I received a smile and a challenge: The ingredients are top secret, but
I was encouraged to get more when I return to Village Pizza in the future.
Challenge accepted! Though the secret formula wasn’t divulged, both Nabil and Mina asked me about
any allergies I might have before offering the dressing to me. Trained and proficient in ServSafe, a
restaurant managerial safety course, both Bekhit brothers shared their training certificates that showed
their allergy awareness and protective practices that they implement every day.
Next, both brothers brought me into the kitchen, where they showed me the art of creating the perfect
pizza. Though I’ve been an avid baker and pastime “chef” for several years, I have never mastered the
craft of making a pizza that didn’t turn into a major cooking fail. I’ve either put too much sauce on the
dough, had toppings spill over into the oven, and once nearly blew my eyebrows off when the crust was
too dry and exploded. As I shared some of these mishaps with the Bekhit brothers, Nabil smiled and said
they would show me how to successfully make a pizza.
In the kitchen, Nabil stretched and manipulated the dough to perfection, while Mina prepared the sauce
and spread it evenly by swaying the pizza pan back and forth until the dough was completely covered.
While learning how to create the perfect pizza, it was impossible not to notice how pristine and spotless
the kitchen was, especially for a restaurant. The floor was so clean, you could practically eat off of it.
“You’ll never go to a pizza place like this,” Nabil stated. “Everything is fresh and has dates [for
expiration].”
Taking pride in his new business, Nabil stated that owning a clean restaurant was one of his top priorities
for customer safety and satisfaction. He also proudly displayed the health board’s latest inspection, which
featured no notes, suggestions, or comments on how to create a cleaner atmosphere. In the restaurant
business, this does not occur often.
The Bekhit brothers’ success hasn’t come from ease. Both Nabil and Mina are incredibly hard workers,
highly educated, and own several businesses both in and out of the United States. Originally from Egypt,
they both studied at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. Nabil studied
finance and accounting, while Mina studied electronics and communications.
In addition to Village Pizza, Nabil has run other businesses, including Zeda’s Pizza in Athol. His family
also owns a business in Egypt that imports and exports tuna for Thailand.
“We put in about 110-120 hours of work per week here,” Mina stated. He also said that the whole family
comes in to help. Nabil and Mina’s father, who is 60 years old, usually works around 70 hours per week.
Their mother sometimes comes in to help as well.
“This place- America, Sterling, and Village Pizza is about family,” Nabil said. “I first visited the United
States in 2008. Sterling is a family town. We know 90% of the customers by name,” Nabil said. “Of
course we will be looking to expand, but we will never leave Sterling. This is my house; people here treat
us like part of their family.”
Mina stated that the family decided to settle in Massachusetts because “the quality of life here is unlike
anywhere else.”
Seeking the American Dream for the Bekhit brothers is just part of what makes their story so
heartwarming. Without family, both brothers stated, “there wouldn’t be success.”
Before I left, Nabil had me try a delicious piece of baklava, which is a common pastry served in Greece.
He stated that his friend from Albania makes it fresh for the restaurant.
Culture, cuisine, and hospitality are just some of the experiences that you’ll see at Village Pizza in
Sterling. Whether you’re going in for salad, spaghetti, or a slice, you’ll encounter what Nabil calls “good
vibes,” the same favored recipes, and family-centered hospitality when you walk through these doors.
