Regional Business Roundup: Attleboro's Best Pizza, Kings Oak Pizza, Liquor Store Changes Hands

Attleboro’s Best Pizza... According to Yelp

For many people, Yelp is the ultimate authority on where to eat, where to get a haircut, what park to visit and just about everything else. With customer reviews and ratings, some businesses flourish and die based on what Yelp users think and tell the world about them.

But how reliable is Yelp? That is a matter of opinion. A recent review of the top pizza places in Attleboro based on Yelp ratings came up with some interesting results, including some similiarities but also major differences from what locals have said in Patch polls.

Kings Oak Pizza in Seekonk a Dream Come True

Melanie Plouff bought Kings Oak Pizza in Seekonk two years ago, and she’s never looked back.

“I used to waitress and bartend a lot,” she said. “I grew up locally and remembered this place, how it was when I was a kid. It was for sale so I bought it.”

Plouff said she was working for a phone company at the time, and wanted to try being her own boss. Originally, she wanted to open a diner, but fate had other plans.

After more than 40 years in business, Route 1 Liquor Mart owner James Civilinski is retiring and handing over the 29 Washington St. business to his sons, Derek, 40 and Marc, 42.“I often said when I hit 65 I would be fully retired,” Civilinski. “Now I’m 70 and I think it’s time to move on and do other things.”Foxborough's Board of Selectmen reviewed – and approved – the liquor store’s application for change of manager, new officer/director and transfer stock of an all alcohol package store license Tuesday. The transition will become official after the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission approves the request.Derek and Marc Civilinski will each take over 50 percent ownership of the business with Derek serving as president and Marc as treasurer and secretary. Both will also serve as directors."[Business is] going from completely in Jim’s control to completely in the boys’ control,” said Civilinski’s attorney Phillip Macchi of Macchi Law in Norwood. “Derek has been working with the business for over 16 years and Marc has been there longer.”

Pizzeria Grande in Walpole Taking Tradition Up a Notch

Doug Smith, owner of Pizzeria Grande in Walpole, first ventured out into the restaurant business back in 1998, and he said it was the best change he ever made.

He said it originally started out as a side job from his other business.

“I used to have  a vending business, so I had experience with sandwiches, sodas and snacks,” he said. “I did that during the day and sometimes when I didn’t like sitting around the house, I got a job in the evenings delivering pizza for four or five years. Then the owner said he was thinking of selling the business and I bought it.”

Smith started at Grande and learned a lot from the previous owner.

“I pretty much knew the business because I had been a delivery driver,” he said. “I was helping on the cash register, cooking on the grill, washing floors and then I graduated into making the pizza.”

Home Business a Dream for Norwood Mom

Chrissy Gagliard has worked with children all her life, but she said it’s now great to bring it all home.

Gagliard, owner of Chrissy’s Little School in Norwood, said she’s been a camp counselor, a babysitter and a preschool teacher in her time.

“I taught in Wellesley for ten years,” she said. “I started babysitting when I was 11 years old. From there, it’s just always been something I wanted to do. Kids are all I’ve ever known and it’s really been my world.”