Basile’s 2 for 1 Pizza & Pasta is a well-established business operating within the Town of Westlock for nearly 30 years, located at 10563 104 Avenue on Highway 44. It is with much gratitude and appreciation that we launch our Local Business Spotlight Series with Basile’s Pizza in recognition of their continued and consistent contribution to the local business community.
Basile’s Pizza is a family owned and operated Italian restaurant that offers a wide selection of handmade products such as freshly baked pizza, pasta, chicken wings, donairs, wraps, salads and more. Each order placed is made completely from scratch to ensure a high quality service and customer satisfaction. The pizza dough is made fresh daily, complimented by their high-grade, handcrafted cheeses and their exclusive secret sauces. Sherry Ammar, the owner of Basile’s Pizza, highly recommended trying out their latest addition to the menu, the donair salad.
Although Basile’s has been in operation for 28 years, Sherry is always looking ahead at the potential growth and achievement she sees for the future of her business. Long term, she would like to see the possible potential of one of her children taking on the business ownership reigns. At the heart of all her aspirations for Basile’s Pizza, her most important goal is to continue providing the community with a service that is filled with passion and enjoyment. As Sherry said it so beautifully, “I always work from the heart and make my pizzas with love.”
Sherry and her husband Frank chose to become business owners for many reasons, including the initial drive that was attached to many goals as young adults. The advantage of being self-employed was very appealing to them as they raised their young family. Sherry has always had a dream to build her own family-operated business from the ground up, ensuring a manageable and satisfactory work-life balance.
Basile’s 2 for 1 Pizza & Pasta is a franchised company with multiple locations across Alberta. With its Greek origins, the name Basile’s comes from the basil leaf that is integrated with the special pizza sauce. While Basile’s has been operational in Westlock for 28 years, Sherry and Frank took over possession of the business 17 years ago, on August 1, 2007. Many locals may remember Basile’s Pizza situated in the downtown area, on 107th Street. In July 2017 their lease with that building ended and the Ammar’s made the decision to relocate to a more visible and easily accessible location along highway 44. This was the first time in 17 years that Basile’s Pizza had to temporarily close their doors while they expeditiously converted their new building from vacant and run-down to functional and prosperous. In only three short months, with the unforgettable assistance of many local businesses and contractors, Basile’s 2 for 1 Pizza and Pasta was up and running as though it never closed its doors.
Although Basile’s is a small family-operated business, the warm and inviting culture of the workplace can be felt the moment you enter their restaurant. When you walk up to the counter, you will likely be greeted by a large friendly smile from Sherry and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch Frank in the back tossing around some pizza dough. The few employees and additional family members can agree that the work environment is warm and comforting. Not only do they function as a well operating team, they care for each other as family and treat each other as so.
When asked about success within the business, Sherry immediately replied with an enduring sense of pride in her voice, “success is at 100%!” She feels her current goals as a local business owner have been met, which has no doubt made this journey a rewarding and an emotional one. Basile’s Pizza has received many excellent reviews throughout the years which reassures Sherry that their hard work and efforts have not gone unnoticed.
As you walk through the doors of Basile’s Pizza, one of the most notable things is the atmosphere that has been created in this restaurant. Not only do they offer a wide array of mouthwatering dishes, the staff is welcoming, the facility is clean, and most notable, the food is made with care for the customer. As Sherry so proudly put it, “we are old fashion, like a 24 gold karat!”
Please join us in celebrating the Ammar family in their continued contribution to the community by stopping by their pizza shop and trying something from their wide selection of handmade Italian cuisine.
Be sure to stay up to date with the latest creations and new deals from Basile’s 2 for 1 Pizza & Pasta by connecting and following them on their social media pages.
