Greek's Pizzeria

Top-notch quality Pizza, Fresh from scratch dough, great atmosphere with good music, and a community-oriented focus is what Greek’s Pizzeria owner Jacob Szumski wants to provide to the city of Crawfordsville. The historic pizza chain has been around for 56 years and now has locations all over Indiana. Although there are many different Greek’s Pizzeria locations, the one in downtown Crawfordsville has a special story.

Jacob Szumski holds sole ownership of Greek’s pizzeria at the age of 21 years, and when he first acquired the store three

years ago, he had an unorthodox start. Before he came into owning the store in Crawfordsville he worked as a delivery driver at the Greek’s Pizzeria in Plainfield. In a couple of months, he worked his way up to learning how to make the dough for the pizza and how to cook the pizzas. At the time, Jacob had two influential friends that changed the trajectory of his future, Nate Sims and his good friend Jake Gagnon who were around Jacob’s age with Nate being 18 years old and Jake being around 21. Jacob was motivated to work at the Greek's Pizzeria in Plainfield because Nate, whom he knew since kindergarten, was a partial owner of that location and Jake was the other owner. Jake also owned the Greek's in Avon.

From the start, Jacob had personality traits that would allow him to be a successful entrepreneur. One of the main traits that Jacob had mastered was the ability to seize an opportunity, and soon enough an opportunity was presented for this young 17-year-old. In Southport Indiana a Greek’s Pizzeria location went up for sale and Jake planned to buy out 60% of it if somebody would buy out the other 40%. Excited by the prospect of taking ownership of a Greek’s pizzeria, Jacob pounced on the opportunity.

Jacob and his dad, Ron, recently participated in the MXoN Parade in Downtown Crawfordsville

While renovating the Southport store, he managed the Avon store and would mow lawns for people in the Avon and Southport area. High cost of operating the store, tough location, and lack of control led Jacob to seek opportunities elsewhere. Fortunately for Jacob, another chance arose for him when the Greek’s pizzeria in Crawfordsville became available. Excited at the thought of becoming the owner of the Crawfordsville location, he found himself quickly buying it out. Even though the prospect of going into debt once again burdened Jacob’s mind with nervousness and uncertainty. Jacob knew that he was never going to get another chance like this again.

Upon the first day of his arrival at the Crawfordsville location he broke his finger on a door when inspecting the building. The broken finger made it hard to create pizzas and to show people how to create pizzas. Regardless Jacob was able to master the entrepreneurial skill of adversity, because he still put in 60 hours a week helping clean, doing finances, and ensuring employee well-being. Even outside the store when he is in leisure cleaning the house, working out, or taking care of the dog, Jacob always has his phone ready just in case one of his employees needed something. On the first day of the operation Jacob couldn’t help but be involved in every process.

Jacob and his dad, Ron, with Team Finland at the MXoN Parade in Downtown Crawfordsville

Part of the reason is that he has set high expectations for himself and wants to make his parents proud. Jacob brought four friends to help him out, and he had hoped that working at Greek’s Pizzeria would bring them into a better life. Over time Jacob’s friends left one by one to seek other opportunities and to chase their own goals, but Jacob maintained true to his dedication towards Greek’s pizzeria. 

Jacob had a troubling first year of his ownership of the store, as the store was already failing upon purchase of it. Lacking financial experience in paying bills, managing money, and running payroll, Jacob found doing the finances was anxiety inducing at first. On top of that, the 60 hours turned into 80–100-hour work weeks, this made Jacob think about transitioning to a job that would pay the same but allow him to work less hours. However, Jacob knew that the investment was going to be worth it if he kept on persevering and learning. Soon enough he learned how to train a crew, make quality products, and pocket profits from the restaurant.

Jacob is most proud of training a crew that he can count on and that can communicate with him whenever they need to.  After the first 24 months, Jacob was able to pay off the loans and his personal expenditures. Jacob says that it's worth going through all the tears and long nights at the end of the day because it truly changed and helped him grow as a person.

What has guided Jacob through the troubled waters was exploring the word of God through Christianity. Jacob’s friend, Cayden Madding, helped Jacob continue his spiritual journey going to church together on Wednesday’s and keeping each other accountable. Every day it is Jacob’s goal to have his nose in the Bible whether he reads one chapter or ten chapters. Cayden and Jacob’s relationship has sparked them to open a Greek’s pizzeria in Columbus, Indiana a year and a half after he bought the Crawfordsville location. Jacob ran the store with Cayden before selling his share to Cayden a little while back. Now, Jacob still attends church with Cayden and develops marketing plans with him. The future looks bright for this young entrepreneur, and more great things are to come from him.

What he is excited most about the future of the restaurant is being able to sell alcohol - keep an eye out in early 2026! In Jacob’s personal future he is most excited about finding a wife and starting a family, but for Jacob he will have to focus on his business as of right now. Stop by Greek’s pizzeria for great quality pizza, good atmosphere, and amazing staff.

Greek's Pizzeria is located at 116 S. Washington St.

Hours: Tuesday - Thursday: 11 am - 9 pm; Friday & Saturday: 11 am - 10 pm; Sundays: Noon - 9 pm

Phone: (765) 323-3154

You can see their menu and order online from their website.