Cheesy mayor hams it up in new venture

THE LOT: Mayor Darryn Lyons shows off his hair and his wares. Picture: REG RYAN

By PAUL MILLAR

DARRYN Lyons, the mayor with attitude, is now a part-owner of Pizzas with Attitude.
The councillor with the rainbow plumage, however, said that he was not in it for the dough.
The long-established East Geelong pizzeria is across the square from the Elephant and Castle, which is owned by Cr Lyons.
The mayor said when it came on the market it made sense to put in an offer for it.
“We knew it was a good business and a good tie in with the pub,” he said.
He has already made his mark on the operation, which now lists a mayoral pizza on the menu.
“It’s a cross between an Aussie and a Hawaiian with barbecue sauce on it,’’ he said with a cheesy grin.
“It’s the oldest established pizza shop in Geelong, it’s been around since 1956, I loved the company so much that I bought it,” he said.
Mario Gregorio, who is the operations manager for the councillor’s Big Group of Companies, is also a part owner of the pizzeria, along with close friends Finlay and Sally Massey.
“It’s a good, fun business and it creates work for people in Geelong,’’ the mayor and pizzeria part-owner said.
The purchase follows the recent sale of the Growlers restaurant in Torquay by Cr Lyons.
Cr Lyons bought the Torquay eatery in early 2011.