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Born: 1983 ( years) Birthplace: Giresun, Turkey Location: Milford, Connecticut About: Deaf Chef Pizzar |
Deaf Chef Pizzar
May 30th 2022 sold restaurant in Stratford, Connecticut
We will be changing hands on may 31th, 2022
I'm sad to announce that Acropolis pizza will be operating under new ownerships. I'd like to thank all of you for your support over the years. I've made many friends on this journey, some of you have become like family. I'll forever be grateful for each and every one of you and support our values of deaf community. My success of 29 years, and the success of my business wouldn't have been possible with out you.
My family and I made the tough decision to sell our business after 29 years. Although, we are heartbroken to part ways, we are excited for a new chapter. Don’t give up your dreams! Deaf can do it!
Lutfi Yildiz was born on November 10, 1983, in Giresun, Turkey, the son of Kemal and Fatma Yildiz. As a child, he became deaf when he was struck with a high fever, which lasted for two months. His father had applied to a Federal Lotto, which allowed a person a visa and a green card to come to the United States of America. He eventually won the Lotto and went to the States in 1986, and began to work his way up in the restaurant business in Milford, Connecticut. After a waiting period of 8 years, his wife, Fatma, and three sons, including Lutfi, arrived in Connecticut on September 11, 1995.
On that day, Lutfi immediately could see the cultural difference between Turkey and the United States of America and saw that his opportunities as a deaf man were endless. At the age of 11, Lutfi began to work in his father’s kitchen, in the Athens Pizza restaurant, a small Greek family restaurant, in Milford, Connecticut. There, he started as a dishwasher and later learned the art of cooking, which took a lot of hard work and practice to make gourmet soups, pizza, subs, sautés, and salads possible for his customers. In 2002, the Yildiz family moved to Stratford, Connecticut, where his father acquired the Acropolis Pizza family restaurant. Lutfi worked part-time and then full-time, leading him to become the manager of the business.
In 1995, Lutfi was admitted to the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, Connecticut, and left in 2000 to help his ailing father run the Athens Pizza restaurant. While working in the restaurant, he continued his education at Milford High School and eventually graduated. Then, he attended the Gateway Community College, where he studied to be a computer technician for three years. After receiving a certificate, he tried to find a job in that career, which didn’t materialize. Since then, he has continued to work in the family restaurant and managed to build up a well-known reputation for his delicious dishes and pizzas. It is evident that Lutfi loves his job and works hard everyday. Not only that, he is motivated by his career and business.
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