31 Jan 2013
Staff Writer
H. Drew Blackburn
Senior Staff Writer
Roman’s Pizza has been here for more than two decades, since UNT alumus Bruce Anvari opened the family-owned restaurant in November 1991. He started off making $4.38 per hour the first day of business.
He and his family all graduated from UNT and never left the area. After graduating from the University of Tehran, Bruce immigrated to Texas, earning his MBA from UNT in 1979 and his doctorate in 1986.
Anvari said he met his wife at UNT, where she also received her doctorate in 1981.
Their son Sam graduated from UNT with a bachelor’s in biology in 2008 and an MBA in finance in 2010. Their daughter Sara received her bachelor’s in 2003 from UNT.
“In nine months she got a master’s degree,” Bruce said. “That was one of the records at UNT.”
Sam Anvari said the key to the pizza shop’s success has been having a good attitude.
“When you want to manage a successful restaurant, it first starts with how you treat your employees, “ he said. “We make sure that they’re happy, because when they’re happy it creates a good work environment.”
Angelica Martinez has been working at Roman’s for three years and has known Bruce since she was eight years old.
“I used to ride my bike and buy pizzas from them,” she said. “One day I needed a job and Bruce offered me one.”
Sam said that personability is the main reason his father’s pizza still flourishes today.
Biology senior Christiana Yebra praised Sam’s generosity.
“He would deliver pizzas on busy weekends and holidays,” she said. “Everyone at the restaurant loved having him stop by.”
Sam plans on opening an environmentally friendly laundromat next door to his father’s pizza shop.
“Like father, like son,” he said.
Roman’s Pizza is located at 3001 N. Elm St.
