Mahomet Filippos named Food Service Business of the Year

Photo provided by: Heather Wanniger, Sweet Lemonade Photography

By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

Mahomet Chamber of Commerce 2020 Award Winners
Overall Business of the Year – Area Garbage, Bud Boller
Small Business of the Year –Yellow & Company, Elizabeth VanHoutan McDermith
Food Service Business of the Year – Filippo’s Pizza, Brigi and Jerry Paris
Health & Wellness Business of the Year – The Rock Counseling Group, R.J. and Staci McNicholl
Startup Business of the Year – Ruff Dayz, Tim and Lacy Belangee
Community Servant of the Year – Mahomet-Seymour schools superintendent, Dr. Lindsey Hall
Volunteer of the Year – Raptor Power Systems, Evan El Koury

The Mahomet Daily will post a series of profiles on each of the award winners, who were recognized at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet on Friday night at Mahomet’s Grace Church. To see the other articles, click on the link associated with each business name above. 

FILIPPO’S PIZZA, Brigi and Jerry Paris

Brigi Paris was 5 years old when she got her start in the family business.

“I vacuumed, helped sweep, did dishes and helped cook,” she said.

The business was Filippo’s Pizza, in Monticello.

“When I was 8, a waitress didn’t show up and they gave me a pad and told me to take orders,” Paris said.

The Monticello location opened in 1970.

Brigi and her husband, Jerry, opened a second location on Tincup Road, in Mahomet, in 1991.

“It was soon after high school,” she said. “I didn’t have a chance to think about it.”

On Friday, the Mahomet Filippo’s was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce as the Food Service Business of the Year.

The couple was at work when the announcement was made.

“My husband, son (Filippo) and I are there every single day,” Brigi Paris said. “It takes all three of us to keep it open.

“Every day, we make everything fresh. We even grind our own cheese. To keep it fresh, we make small batches. Jerry is in there as soon as 8 a.m. some days, even though we don’t open until 4.”

The Chamber recognition lifted their spirits.

“We take such pride in the product we serve,” Brigi Paris said. “It’s a lot of work and, after 29 years, it’s starting to hurt.

“To hear this makes it all worthwhile.”

She’s not hinting at retirement.

“When I’m not at work, I miss it,” she said. “I love my job. It’s part of my life.

“My dad was 81 when he retired. We want to go at least that long. What else are you going to do all day?”

Filippo’s Pizza is open at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

According to Brigi Paris, the most popular pizza is the special and the most popular pasta item is lasagna.

“Mahomet is an amazing town,” Brigi Paris said. “We’re starting to see new faces, but the regulars keep our doors open.

“Our customers seem more like family. We’ve been here long enough that we’ve watched children get married and now they’re having children.”