GALLERY: Express Pizza + Donair celebrates 20th anniversary

Express Pizza + Donair celebrated 20 years of serving Bonnyville on Wednesday.

Customers were treated to a free slice of pizza and a cupcake for the milestone occasion.

Members of the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce, as well as Town and M.D. councillors gave praise to Sal Arabi and his family for his longevity and expansion of his business since 2004.

Sal spoke to the assembled crowd at lunch hour, sharing his family’s story to get to this point, moving to Bonnyville in 2001.

Upon moving, he was working two full-time jobs, until…

“It was in March of 2004, me and my brother-in-law Mike just walked through the door and his brother Sal there. Mike always tells me, if you work all these hours, why don’t you open your own business? But I was only 24 years old, so it’s a tough decision to make,” said Arabi to the group. 

“I talked to Sara, and she’s like, you can do it.” 

Through help at Lakeland Credit Union, they opened their doors on October 16, 2004. In fact, Mike Straile was their first customer, and was on hand at the anniversary.

The work was long, but after years of establishing their brand and giving back to the community, the name Express Pizza became a staple.

So much so in fact, the opportunity to expand across the Lakeland became a possibility.

In 2015, their shop opened in Cold Lake. A year later, Express was now in Vermilion. Fast forward to 2020, and now they were also in St. Paul.

“The biggest thing was the support from this community. That’s why we’re very honoured, and we’re very thankful for the Lakeland area in general. Bonnyville, Cold Lake, St. Paul, Vermilion, I would not ask for any better one.

“But behind this Express pizza is not about making the fresh dough daily or the sauce. There’s always someone behind this there’s always someone behind this cabinet that takes this plane and fly it is this beautiful lady here,” Sal said of his wife Sara. 

Their son Michael, also stepped up to speak, and credit what he’s learned from his parents.

“They had a vision to bring something unique to the Lakeland area. It wasn’t just food, though. Express Pizza Plus is more than that. It’s about being part of a family, being part of community and something special.” 

Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau also took the opportunity to credit Express and the entrepreneurial spirit of the Arabi family.

“On behalf of town council and myself, your story is so inspiring. For an entrepreneur, you really are what it’s like to be an entrepreneur, taking a risk, putting yourself out there, taking the time from your family. But you always had a vision, and I’m so happy the community supports you continue to make the amazing food that you do,” she said.