Marion Restaurant To Bring Back Original Recipes with New Owner

Santoro's has been a wildly popular pizza and sub shop for decades in both Wareham and Marion. Tri-town residents may have noticed over the holidays that the Marion Santoro's location has been closed. The restaurant was sold at the end of December, and some big changes are coming.

Marion Santoro's Sold

The original Wareham location of Santoro's was opened by Mel Sivvianakis in 1992. Sivvianakis owned and operated Santoro's in Wareham until he sold it to a friend in 2007. Business was going well in Wareham, so Mel decided to branch off and bought a second location in Marion in 2001, which also turned out to be a success.

Unfortunately, due to some serious health issues, Mel, 60 years old, has been forced to step back from the business. His wife Emilia says he is torn. "It is very difficult for him to be separated from Santoro's," she said. "He has a heavy heart. Santoro's is his baby."

Two years ago, as Mel struggled with his health, he found somebody to rent the store with an option to buy. "That didn't go so well," said Emilia. The new operator of the restaurant made the decision to change the proven Santoro's recipes. "They changed the pizza sauce and dough. They changed the marinated chicken, which was our number one seller in both Marion and Wareham," said Emilia. "It just didn't work out."

Big Changes Coming to Santoro's

After it became obvious that the new operator was not going to be in a position to buy the Marion Santoro's, Sivvianakis put the restaurant up for sale again.

Enter Sam Mikhaeil. He struck a deal with Mel and the two are in the process of transitioning the business. "We're going to bring back the original Santoro's recipes," said Mikhaeil, who has previously owned pizza shops in Plymouth and Easton. "We're going to bring back all the original favorites like the original marinated chicken, and add in some new things to the menu like potato skins, jalapeno poppers, and other appetizers." There will also be a vodka sauce.

Marion Santoro's to Re-open Next Week

Mikhaeil will run Santoro's as a family, with help from his wife and kids. He is hoping to re-open the Marion Santoro's sometime next week. Mel plans on staying on for several weeks to help Mikhaeil with the re-opening. Sivvianakis clearly still cares about the Santoro's brand after 33 years. Those habits are tough to break.