Since opening 12 years ago in Foxborough, Sal and Mal’s Pizza has defined the meaning of a true family business.

Owner and operator Chris Politsopoulos said he has been in the pizza business for over 31 years. He said he runs Sal and Mal’s with his wife, Linda and his sons, Paul and Nicholas.

“It’s literally a family operated business,” he said. “One thing me and my wife have always had is the quality to make sure the customers are always happy.”

Politsopoulos said he got his start in the business while he was going to school in Manhattan, N.Y.

“I started working in a pizza place in New York back in the 80s,” he said. "New York supposedly has the best pizza, and basically I learned the business from the true sources in how to make a New York-style pizza. I learned the business inside and out.”

Politsopoulos said Foxborough is his third location, and he has pizza shops in Dorchester and Roxbury. He said while he loves living in Massachusetts, he does not understand the pan style pizza.

“I have never made a pan pizza,” he said.

Politsopoulos said customer referrals and satisfaction is the reason he’s still in business.

“Word of mouth, that’s the only thing that keeps me going,” he said. “People come in and try our food and after that they become loyal customers.”

He added his customer base is extremely loyal, coming from all over.

“It’s encouraging to see people come in from Franklin, Plainville, Attleboro, Sharon and Mansfield,” he said.  “I have customers tell me they drove about 10 miles.”

Politsopoulos said that he’s been expanding the menu to include more variety than what you might find in the usual pizza shop. He said one of his employees, a good friend before he was hired, bakes pastries in the shop.

“Pastries  baklava, homemade brownies, I’m trying to let the customers appreciate something that you wouldn’t get a franchise restaurant,” he said.