Photo courtesy of Thomas and Larisa Lussiano
Located on Gulfport’s Beach Boulevard, Tommy’s Hideaway is a small-town pizza joint that opened on the busy street in 2023.
For this month’s “Seven Questions,” we asked owners Larisa and Tommy Lussiano seven questions about life behind the counter. Here’s what they had to say.
1. Why did you choose to open a business in Gulfport?
We fell in love with Gulfport’s close-knit community and its eclectic, artsy and pet-friendly personality. From the beginning, people made us feel welcome and right at home. We knew this was the kind of community where we wanted to build our business and become part of something special.
2. What’s something about Tommy’s Hideaway that might surprise people?
People are often surprised by how much more we offer beyond our wood-fired pizza. We have a creative and diverse menu … but Tommy’s is also more than a restaurant. It’s a neighborhood gathering place.
3. What’s the toughest part of running a business?
Balancing everything that comes with owning a restaurant while still maintaining the quality and personal attention our guests expect. There are always a lot of moving parts, but Larisa and I stay very hands-on because it’s important to us that every guest has a great experience.
4. And the best part?
The relationships we’ve developed with our guests, employees and the Gulfport community are by far the most rewarding part.
Photo courtesy of Thomas and Larisa Lussiano
5. What’s the most unusual experience you’ve had at Tommy’s?
Neither of us had ever experienced a hurricane, or the devastation that came with one. It was one of the most difficult and unexpected experiences we’ve faced.
We’re incredibly grateful to our staff, friends, family, and this amazing community for coming together to help us get Tommy’s back up and running so quickly.
6. When you’re not eating at Tommy’s, where do you eat in Gulfport?
We love the tremendous variety Gulfport has to offer, from specialty coffee and breakfast spots to Greek food, seafood, and casual dining. Every business brings its own personality and flavor to the community, and that variety is one of the things that makes Gulfport so special.
7. Be honest: What’s the most bizarre customer order you’ve ever made?
We love how creative our guests can be, especially when they design their own dish or pizza. Some combinations definitely make us giggle. But if we had to choose one? Our Fig & Goat pizza — with clams added. We never would have thought of that combination ourselves, but we happily made it.
Tommy’s Hideaway, 3121 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport. tommypizzapub.com, 727-623-4288.
Each month, we will choose a Gulfport business and ask the owner(s) seven questions. Want to be included?
Send an email with your contact number to abby@thegabber.com.
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