SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – After 40 years of service, Acropolis Pizza will be making its last slice. The restaurant has faithfully served many generations of Syracuse University students and locals alike. Graduate student Garrett Szczucki never stepped foot inside 167 Marshall St. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of the restaurant to those who have come before him.
“I’ll probably go there this year to see what all of the old alumni are hyped up about,” Szczucki said, “but I’ve never been there because of all the stories I’ve been told.”
No business is without its flaws, but Acropolis Pizza has built a bit of a track record in recent years. The restaurant was declared a public nuisance back in 2012, and an argument over pizza escalated to a 2017 stabbing. Szczucki said his friends have not held back on their opinions of the service.
“They were totally not customer service oriented,” Szczucki said, “and I think that could be a big reason why the quality has dwindled in the past couple of years.”
In Acropolis’ place, a Popeyes will be coming to Marshall Street in the coming months. This will be the national chain’s sixth location in Syracuse pending city approval. Szczucki said he thinks students will welcome the change, but it may put a lot of pressure on the competition.
“I know that Winnie’s Soul Delicious, the soul food restaurant that’s there, I know fried chicken is their specialty and that could hurt them a little bit,” Szczucki said. “I know it’s part of the whole plan to revitalize Marshall Street, I just don’t want it to turn into a bunch of chains, and places that the local owners couldn’t get a foothold anymore.”
Popeyes is slated to open its doors in the summer or fall of this year.
