When you ask someone what are the first things that come to mind when they think of Antigonish, they will often say StFX University followed quickly by The Wheel.
The Wagon Wheel first opened in the late 40s/early 50s. The restaurant was renamed The Wheel in the mid 70s due to another restaurant in New Glasgow sharing the name The Wagon Wheel.
Buddy Sweet was the original owner. When opened, next door you would find M&M Motors. Jim Lerikos purchased the restaurant in 1967 and created the first pizza recipe with Eddie Purcell in 1970/71. Jim sold the restaurant in 1974 to Anwar Radda when he and his brother George opened the Lobster Treat on Post Road. Mike Hassin purchased The Wheel in 1979. (Source: Trish Hassin, Jim Lerikos)
The Wheel is famous well beyond the town of Antigonish not only because of it’s delicious pizza but also, I suspect, due to the “always there” comfort of the restaurant.
The pictures below were found on the Nova Scotia – Traditions & Memories Facebook group & an Instagram account called Old Photos of Antigonish
