Tommeez Pizza and Subs is opening at 101 North Mill Street in Shepherdstown. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Tommy’s Pizza in Shepherdstown was an iconic place to eat — getting pizza and subs from George Kalathas, who ran the shop for decades.

Kalathas’ death in late 2022 left many missing the favorite spot, including Rick Staubs and his wife, Kim Hall. Rick, along with his older brother, Raymond, both worked for Kalathas at Tommy’s over the years, and the two have now been working together in preparation of the opening of Tommeez Pizza at the same location.

“It’s a different name, because it’s a new business,” explained Raymond’s wife, Jan Lake, adding that the new restaurant, set to open within the next few weeks, has been a dream of Rick and Kim’s.

“And they have made it come true,” Lake said Sunday, when she added that she and Raymond have helped on the journey to get the restaurant ready to open.

Raymond, previous owner of Tony’s Pizza in downtown Shepherdstown, said he began working at Tommy’s when he was around 15.

Rick Staubs and Kim Hall are joined by Jan Lake and Raymond Staubs in the new Tommeez Pizza and Subs opening soon in Shepherdstown. Tommeez will fill the former Tommy’s Pizza location, where both of the Staubs brothers worked throughout their youth. Toni Milbourne

“I started picking up trash and making up pizza boxes,” Raymond said, adding that he learned the business as he got older and left to open Tony’s.

By that time, Rick was working at Tommy’s — also starting out picking up trash and making up pizza boxes.

“George is where I and Raymond got our work ethic,” Rick said, something that has helped him in the long journey to preparing for opening day. “Kim and I took a bid to buy the place. A friend of ours bought it, and now, we are leasing the building.”

Since getting the space in July, the couple, along with Raymond and Jan, has worked tirelessly to clean, remodel and get the shop ready to open under the new name.

“We are working on a lot of the same menu. Hopefully, we’re going to get the same taste,” Raymond said, adding that both he and Rick know the recipes made successful at Tommy’s Pizza.

“George was like a brother to Raymond and me,” Rick said. “He taught me everything about pizza that I know.”

Although Rick took another career path, working in the bread business for 32 years before retiring, he said that whenever he was in town and George needed help, he would jump in.

Now, he and Kim are ready to open their doors, with Raymond and Jan’s help until the initial startup is complete. At that point, Raymond and Jan plan to open a wood-fired pizza truck, as Rick and Kim settle into running Tommeez.

“They have been godsends to us,” Kim said, referring to her brother-in-law and his wife. “It wouldn’t have happened without them, and we are beyond grateful.”

“I wasn’t really expecting this,” Rick laughed. “But it just took off. The support from the community has been amazing.”

While it has been a long, often difficult road, the time is near for the lights to be back on at the local eatery location. Rick laughingly shared that he has told people that once they see the lights on, they will know the wait is over and Tommeez is open for business, as he awaits final permits for opening.

The shop will be open six days per week, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It has retained the same phone number as Tommy’s Pizza used, 304-876-2577, to simplify the ordering process.