The Thompson, Manitoba, Simeonidis family, who founded Santa Lucia in 1971 as a take-out pizza shop, saw immediate success. This is due to the restaurant's commitment to provide high-quality dishes at fair prices.

Their sustained success can be credited, at least in part, to the fact that they have kept the quality of all of their products at the same level, not just the pizza. All of the family's dough, bread, sauces, salad dressings, and traditional food order in Saskatoon were made from scratch, as had been the habit since the time of their ancestors. People started taking notice, and soon they were famous for more than just their pizza.

Awards such as "Best Pizza in Winnipeg" from Uptown Magazine, "Best Family Restaurant" from the Consumers' Choice Awards, "Best Garlic Bread" from the Winnipeg Free Press, "Best Greek Salad" from the Winnipeg Tribune, and "Best Food Booth" from the Taste of Manitoba have been bestowed upon Santa Lucia Pizza in recognition of its dedication to tradition by the local media in Winnipeg.