‘Feels like a lifetime’: Edmonton restaurant celebrates 50 years in business

Edmonton’s Coliseum Steak & Pizza celebrating 50 years in business. Our Hiba Kamal-Choufi speaks to restaurant’s owners about their secret to success.

By Hiba Kamal-Choufi

Posted July 21, 2026 5:12 pm.

Last Updated July 21, 2026 7:02 pm.

At a time when several restaurants in the city are closing – citing construction woes and reduced foot traffic – a success story in the heart of Edmonton is worth celebrating.

Coliseum Steak & Pizza in Edmonton’s Parkdale neighbourhood has been in business, and a staple of the community, for 50 years.

Co-owner Diana Varvis started working at the restaurant when she was only 13 years old.

“This is my second home. Sometimes it’s my first home,” said Varvis, laughing. “Sometimes I spend more time here than I do with my own family.

“I’ve been here 30 years now, which feels like a lifetime.”

Coliseum Steak & Pizza has been serving Edmontonians since 1976, just two years after the former home of the Oilers with the same name — Northlands Coliseum – opened. The restaurant witnessed five Stanley Cup wins, leading to great memories for co-owner Bill Varvis.

Bill Varvis, who is Diana’s father, was one of the five original owners, and at 94 years old, he’s still around.

“I have a picture of me drinking out of the Stanley Cup. It’s pretty cool,” he said.

Coliseum Steak & Pizza co-owner Bill Varvis drinking out of the Stanley Cup in this undated photo. (Submitted b: Bill Varvis)

Aware many restaurants in the city are struggling, the co-owners tell CityNews the key to success is hard work, commitment, and serving high-quality food at a reasonable price.

“This is a story of immigrants coming from, in our case, Greece with nothing and having the fortitude and handwork ethic to build a small empire, but it’s a pretty cool empire,” Bill Varvis said.

Varvis thanked longtime customers for getting the restaurant to this latest milestone.

*Three generations of the Varvis family reminisce at Coliseum Steak & Pizza on July 21, 2026. (Hiba Kamal-Choufi, CityNews)*

Among those loyal customers is Bruce Perry, who’s been eating there for more than 40 years.

“It’s the kind of place when they get to know you, you become part of the family,” Perry said. “It’s like you’re going to your best friend’s for dinner. There’s very few restaurants that you know every single time you go, it’s gonna be good.”

Coliseum Steak & Pizza is already eyeing the next 50 years in the community.

“I see myself like my dad who’s still here kicking, watching everyone, and hopefully seeing my girls just like I am,” said Diana Varvis.