About us

At Parea, we strive for quality in all aspects of our operation. From the people we hire, to the ingredients we have imported from Greece, our priority is to serve you the best we can. All our meat is cooked to order and the produce is chopped fresh daily. Though we strive for quick service, we value fresh over fast. Many of these recipes have been in our family for generations. Since immigrating here in the 1950’s, we’ve enjoyed fusing authentic Greek flavors with American-style food. We hope these dishes will bring you the same comfort & joy that they’ve brought to our family and friends all these years.

Our Story

Thank you for 20 years!

Parea Gyros was originally founded in 2004 by Kathleen & Michael Ference under the name of My Big Fat Greek Gyro. The concept was simple, BIG portions and a family-style atmosphere. The community loved the food so much that they saw potential in the concept as an investment opportunity. The founders ended up franchising 6 stores in the Pittsburgh area. After being featured on CNBC’s The Profit, the company rebranded to The Simple Greek and was taken over by the eldest sons and an investor. After things fell through with the investor, the sons decided they no longer wanted to operate the restaurant, and the family was considering selling the restaurant to a stranger. It was at this time that the current owner, who is the youngest child of the family, decided she couldn’t let that happen.

Sophia is a second-generation Peters Township High School graduate, as well as a first-generation immigrant whose father immigrated from the Mediterannean island of Cyprus and maternal grandfather immigrated from the Greek island of Crete. When the restaurant opened in 2004, Sophia was 9 years old and a student at McMurray Elementary School. The restaurant became a meeting place for her friends to walk to after school. When she took over the restaurant, she knew she wanted to honor that memory with the new name. She first heard the name Parea in church. It’s what they call the coffee social hour after the service. Upon researching the meaning of Parea further, she found the name to be a perfect fit for the restaurant rebrand.

Parea means friends who gather to share experiences about life, philosophies, values, and ideas. At the heart of everything we do lies a commitment to being inclusive, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and valued, regardless of their background or story. Our doors are always open to new perspectives and diverse experiences, which enrich our community and make us stronger together. We believe that inclusivity isn't just a word, but a practice that fosters understanding, empathy, and unity.

Thank you for being a part of this wonderful journey!