Lou Malnati's Pizzeria / About Lou Malnati's
Considered the oldest family name in
Chicago pizza, Lou Malnati's is as rich in history as it's pizza is in flavor. Lou got his
start in the 1940's, working with his father Rudy, in Chicago's first deep dish pizzeria.
Lou Malnati took his pizza expertise to Lincolnwood, a northern suburb of Chicago, where
he and his wife Jean opened the first Lou Malnati's Pizzeria on March 17, 1971. Lou was
known for his fun-loving character as well as making Chicagoland's best pizza. Loyal
patrons lined the streets on opening day for a taste of his delicious deep-dish creations.
Lou always thought it was funny that an Italian should open a pizzeria in a Jewish
neighborhood on an Irish holiday. But that was Lou's style, he loved all types of people
and didn't care much about what people thought.
After meeting with an enormous success in Lincolnwood, Lou
decided to open another pizzeria in a little northwestern suburb by O'Hare Airport, Elk
Grove Village. Unfortunately, the Elk Grove location had a tough beginning. A major road
construction project began a few months after the restaurants opening and for 14 months
business suffered immensely. At one point the accountants advised Lou to close the doors
before it ruined him. But Lou would have nothing to do with that idea and persevered. Sure
enough, once the construction ended, people came in droves to Lou Malnati's Pizzeria in
Elk Grove.
 In 1978 Lou Malnati met with an untimely death when he fell victim
to cancer. Lou's oldest son Marc was just graduating from college and joined his mother in
the family business. A few years later Marc's younger brother Rick finished his basketball
career at downstate Illinois' Bradley University and he joined the family business as
well.
The company has continued to grow by building on the
loyalty of their dedicated employees. Lou Malnati's is unique in the fact that people come
to work for Malnati's and don't leave! Not only do they stay around for a long while, they
recruit their family members to come work for Lou's. There are some cases of three
generations of one family working for the Malnati's. Not long ago, the Malnati's
recognized over 25 employees that had been part of the Malnati restaurant family for over
20 years! Quite a milestone for the restaurant business. This elite group consisted of
managers, cashiers, waitstaff, cooks, and even bus boys. The longstanding tradition
continues with almost 80 staff members that have been with Lou Malnati's for over 10
years.
 Carrying on Lou's vision
of providing great food at reasonable prices Lou Malnati's has grown to include
28 family
owned Chicagoland pizzerias. In recent years the Malnati's have felt blessed by their
success and wanted to do something to give back to the community. In the fall of 1995 the
Malnati's opened a restaurant on the West side of Chicago in an effort to help rejuvenate
a neighborhood that has not had much success in recovering from the riots of 1967 which
ravaged the area. Lou Malnati's Lawndale pizzeria is unique in that all profits will be
given back to the community to benefit children's educational and recreational programs.
We hope that you have enjoyed this bite of Malnati history
and look forward to serving you and your family soon!
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