VERO BEACH –– A former ice cream truck, a beloved French bulldog and years in the pizza business all helped shape the journey that led Mike and Sandy Sonnie to open Willee’s Pizza in Vero Beach.
The husband-and-wife team opened the family restaurant May 5 at 1453 20th St., bringing what they describe as Pittsburgh-style pizza to the area.
The restaurant is named for the Sonnies’ French bulldog, Willee, whose name first appeared on the couple’s former ice cream truck, Chilly Willee. After that endeavor proved less profitable than expected, the couple decided to invest in themselves and return to a business Mike Sonnie knew well…