Athens Pizza and Pasta Suffer Fourth Burglary in Two Years, Leaving Owners Devastated

AUBURN, WA — The brothers behind Auburn's historic Athens Pizza and Pasta restaurant are facing a mix of frustration and financial strain after their business was burglarized for the fourth time in just two years.

The latest incident occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 16, 2025. Co-owners and brothers Bill and Tom Contoravdis were alerted to a break-in at their restaurant, located at 959 E. Main St., by their security camera system around 3:00 a.m. Upon checking the live feed, they saw that a burglar had breached the building.

While the perpetrator fled without stealing cash or products, the break-in left behind significant property damage, including a completely shattered window. The brothers spent the pre-dawn hours sweeping up glass and boarding up the storefront to ensure they could open for business later that afternoon.

The series of break-ins, which began in late 2023, has taken a heavy emotional and financial toll on the family. Following a fire at the restaurant five years ago, the owners were forced to raise their insurance deductible. As a result, the costs for repairing the recurring damage from these burglaries must be paid entirely out of pocket, costing the business thousands of dollars.

Despite the challenges, the brothers remain resilient. They have owned and operated Athens Pizza and Pasta since 1990, and they noted that the restaurant went 43 years without a single break-in before this recent wave. The owners expressed gratitude for the ongoing support of the local community as they work to secure the building against future incidents.