We have a unique edge
At Zepole, we believe there are three unique qualities that set us apart from others.
Family Owned
One-stop-shop
People first organization
Value Driven consulting
Our Core values
Do the right thing
Go above and beyond
Do What you say
Always be growing
the story of zepole
Our Founder's Journey
Before embarking on the journey that led to the birth of Zepole, Nicholas Thiakos, Sr. had already accumulated over 25 years of invaluable foodservice experience. His story begins as a Greek immigrant at age 15, armed with nothing but a strong work ethic and determination to support his parents in Greece. Having worked for another foodservice dealer and owning restaurants, Nick’s resilience and success laid the foundation for what would become Zepole.
In a twist of fate on New Year’s Eve, Nick found himself fired but undeterred. He leveraged his strong customer relationships, buying from different distributors and reselling products. In the absence of a company name, Nick would personally handwrite customer information on generic invoices. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of something extraordinary.
The birth of zepole
As Nick navigated the streets, a case of piña colada mix, Coco Lopez, caught his attention in the back seat. This serendipitous moment led to the genesis of a name – Lopez Supply. Unsettled by the cultural mismatch, Nick decided to flip Lopez, giving birth to Zepol. Still feeling incomplete, he added the ‘e,’ and Zepole Restaurant Supply Co. emerged.
Officially established in 1982 in the basement of an office building in Joliet, IL, Zepole initially focused on selling disposable paper products to restaurants. However, customer demand soon propelled Zepole into sourcing a diverse range of products – from chemicals and janitorial supplies to chinaware, tabletop products, and equipment.
carrying the torch
Nick’s legacy lives on in Zepole, where his youngest son Gary now carries the torch. Inspired by his father’s memory and values, Gary is determined to strengthen and expand Zepole’s legacy. Today, Zepole stands as a one-stop source for all restaurant needs, offering services ranging from commercial kitchen design, equipment, and installation to resupply and chemicals.
your success is our mission.
Consulting • Design • Equipment • Installation • Service • Chemicals • Sanitation
Proud Partners With
With the support of PRIDE Centric Resources and the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association (FEDA), we are able to provide the most current industry knowledge and the best prices to our customers. PRIDE Centric Resources is a premiere buying group for the foodservice industry. This partnership allows us to combine our buying power with other independent foodservice equipment dealerships in order to purchase quality equipment at the best prices We are then able to pass that price onto our customers.
