Making the move to Phoenix is no easy task, but we’re up to the challenge!
A lot of thought has gone into building our first out-of-state location, so here are 5 things you should know about our new location in Arizona to get all the facts straight!
- We may be expanding out of state, but we’re still a family-owned and operated company. Just because we are heading out west, doesn’t mean we are franchising. In fact…
- Five members of our management team have volunteered to permanently relocate to Arizona. We are committed to providing a true taste of Chicago in Phoenix, and that includes our Chicago team!
- We have gone to great lengths to ensure our pizza will taste just as it does in Chicago – that means bringing core ingredients like our cheese, our tomatoes, and of course our secret dough recipe from Chicago to our new kitchens in Arizona.
- The new Phoenix location will offer dine-in, with capacity to seat 240 people, carry-out, catering, and delivery.
- We know you’re wondering where we’ll go next, but the truth is, we are 100% focused on this location. We want to ensure it is a success before we consider more locations in Arizona or elsewhere.
If we haven’t answered all of your Arizona-related questions, please leave a comment, or fill out our contact form. We would love to hear from you!
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Comments (76)
This is very good news! I’m relocating to the Phoenix area and I’ll be thrilled to have my favorite pizzeria nearby. Best wishes to you on your build.
I’m so excited to have a little slice of home here in the desert! You might want to start scouting other locations (the West Valley is a great start, lol) because us transplants are going to be introducing LOTS of people to your amazing pizza.
Will the dough be EXACTLY like Chicago? Arizona water leaves a bit to be desired when compared to Lake Michigan…
Funny you should ask about the water, John! We totally agree with you, and we’re working with companies in Arizona to replicate the pH of Chicago water so the taste is just right.
We are honored that Phoenix AZ was chosen but I would like to know the exact reason or reasons like: weather, contacts, Chicago fan base in the valley etc……. why not CA, NV or TX, FL? I’m just so thrilled you chose here.
Thanks
Joey
Hi Joe, we chose Arizona as our first out-of-state expansion site based on data we’ve gathered from our shipping division, Tastes of Chicago. Right now we’re focusing on Phoenix but if all goes well, we will continue expanding outside of Chicago.
For the comment left by john, read #3. Everything exactly like Chicago. I’m sure they will ship the right water in.
Tampa Fl next! Hey if Portillo’s thought Tampa was a good market , Lou’s will think it is awesome, including all of us Chicago transplants!
This is AMAZING news! Believe me.. all AZ based Chicagoan’s are ready and waiting, and there are a ton of us!!!
that’s fantastic you are expanding to Phoenix. My daughter and her boyfriend go to ASU. Now I can give them gift certificates and they can get the pizza hot and fresh there.
Great news! I lived on Schaumburg Rd. Just down from the Roselle Rd. Location and look forward to our new fav place in Phoenix now that we are in AZ. West Valley area ( Surprise, AZ) would love to be next!! Hint, hint!!!
I’m salviating already! When is it going to open?
Our target for opening is May 2016, Mike, but we’ll be sure to keep everyone posted as we continue with our renovations on the space!
Looking forward to this is an UNDERstatement…I’m ready, standing with napkins in hand! Happy to hear the lengths you guys are going to so that we can have the real deal! If you need someone to sample anything……………..LOL
We are soooo excited here in Phoenix! You’ve picked a fantastic location in Central!
Good location, close to lightrail,
Thank God! Between you and Portillos, I am wondering why I need to come back home at all these days…. 1,000 thanks for opening a location in AZ! Now all the Cubbies spring training fans can really feel at home in the Valley! YAY Lou Malnatis!
Seems unfair…..As an AZ resident not only don’t I have to pay Illinois taxes but now I get Malnati’s pizza hot and fresh. Life is good
This is fabulous news. I honor your decision to be totally committed to a “real” Malnati’s pizza, but I would like the west valley to be in contention after the first one is a FABULOUS success. Don’t forget all those old pizza pans, too. You can’t do it without the old pans.
BTW, I’m glad you are staying private and not doing the franchise thing. Franchises really lose something as quality control usually goes out the door immediately…
Opening a restaurant in Arizona is really great news. I’m sure you will be the number one pizzeria in Arizona. No one can beat your pizza. We are getting a lot of restaurants in the Gilbert area, hint..
Surprise needs a wonderful pizza place! Please keep us in mind for your next location.
I’m sure you know Phoenix Metro area is a second Chicago. Now if I can only get a White Castle franchise to start here!!!
Hi neighbor:
I work in the suite 2 doors down from your new location at the Uptown Plaza.
I grew up in Chicago 25 years eating your pizza and have been in Phoenix for 33 years. I’ve been having your pizza’s shipped here and will now enjoy them fresh as when I lived in Chicago.
See you soon.
Love the news!!! We just moved to Phoenix this past May and every time we drive back to Chicago we make it a point to stop at our local Lou’s. Can’t wait to enjoy your pizza here!! PLEASE open a store near us in N. Phoenix…lots of new homes, no good pizza!!
Please come to Southwest Florida… So many Chicago transplants living here that miss Lou’s.
You just saved hundreds of dollars in airfares. I’ll be there when you open with friends.
Great, great news…We’ll be making the trek from Tubac, AZ, 40 miles south of Tucson! A longtime Lincolnwood diner from years ago!
Love the news. We winter out here for 6 months and miss a really good pizza. East Valley would be great for a 2nd location.
Great news for Phoenix! The Schaumburg restaurant is very close to us and the carry out is just down the street. Will be moving to Colorado in June. Please consider expanding to the Denver Metro in the future…until then will need to order online once we move.
Cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to hear this. I grew up on your pizza and have some of favorite memories of my dad and Grandma eating this pizza. EVERY SINGLE TIME I go back to Chicago we stop in for a pizza. I am so happy I will now be able to share this with my kids.
SWEET……. I just relocated to the valley after 19 years in Wrigleyville, home sweet home with the pizza. Thanks Malnati’s!! Wish you were open today~
Thank goodness!!! The pizza here is horrible and Lous is fantastic! I have been eating Lous for over 20 years and can’t wait. Scottsdale area would be a great location especially near Portillos or scottsdale quarter. I have never been to uptown Phoenix, didn’t even know there was one!
TOTALLY FABULOUS, AND MAGICAL NEWS !!! I USED TO VISIT THE AREA OF CAMELBACK AND CENTRAL AVENUES ALOT. I SAW A SHOW ON THE FOOD NETWORK ABOUT ”LOU MALNATI’S PIZZA YEARS AGO. HAVE BEEN SO CURIOUS AND DREAMED OF GOING TO CHICAGO TO TRY, BUT NEVER MADE IT. ANYWAY, THE GENTLEMAN WHO REALLY TOOK THE SHOW WAS A GUY NAMED MARK OR MARC, AN ENGLISH GENT TRAVELED TO ”MALNATIS’ TO TRY. WHEN MARK PULLED THE DEEP DISH PIZZA OUT OF THE OVEN, MY MOUTH JUST WATERED, AND WANTED TO TASTE THAT PIZZA SO BAD!!!! SO… SEEMS I WONT HAVE TO TRAVEL TO FAR TO TRY YOUR PIZZA WHEN YOU MAKE THE MOVE TO PHOENIX, AZ. SO BEST OF LUCK TO ”MALNATI” FAMILY ON ONE OF YOUR NEW LOCATIONS HERE IN PHOENIX, AZ IN 2016. WHEN YOU FINALLY OPEN, I KNOW I WILL BE THERE TO TRY. IT WILL BE A MAGICAL DREAM COME TRUE !!!! [matt in, AZ]
We are thrilled. Now one of the things we miss about Chicago is withing walking distance from our house! Our mouths are watering already.
We are so excited for your Phoenix opening! I’m from Phoenix, but my wife and her family are from the Hinsdale area. We always make time to grab your great pizza when in Chicago. We are counting the days until you open! I am a Realtor here in Phoenix, so let me know if I can help your folks moving here find places to live.
I am so excited that Lou Malnati’s is opening in Arizona. Phoenix is too far for me to drive for pizza, but it gives me hope that Tucson/Oro Valley may have chance in the future. All the very best with your business expansion. I know you will do great!!!
Thank goodness you are expanding to Phoenix in the Southwest. It’s about time we get some iconic real Chicago pizza! Now I won’t have to have my pizza shipped or get my fix when I go back to Chicago every year. Great decision choosing Phoenix as your out of state destination. Portillos coming to Arizona was great but Lou Malnati’s coming here is fantastic….no pizza in Arizona comes near to the perfection of Lou Malnati’s. My stomach is grumbling and my mouth is watering already! I can’t wait…….and I’m counting the days!
YAY.. Finally real pizza in Arizona.. The only pizza that is good in az is Papa Murphy’s.. I am originally from New York and the food in Arizona is just slapped together and not made with love.. There are only a few selected places that are worth eating at in az.. also Thank you triple D for letting people know where there are decent places to eat in az.. I can’t wait for a truly good pizza… Way to go and thank you so much Malnati family….
I can hardly wait. Lou’s is my favorite pizza in earth. Anyone who asks “why AZ ?”is dumb. Cubs are here and many chitown transplants. AZ is the new south side.
Please consider Denver once all is settled w AZ! Been living here for 3 yrs and there is NO comparison for your pizza, so we’ve been getting it shipped. Also, go to any Avs vs Blackhawks game, Hawks fans far outnumber the Avs out here! Tons of transplants!
can I make a reservation for opening day…think I’m going to need one!
Such exciting news. I’m from Chicago moved to Texas and then relocated here. Life is good now with Lou’s coming to town. There are lots of Chicagoans here so you will feel right at home.
Please have the Chicken Louie on your AZ menu. It’s been decades since I’ve had it, and it is still my favorite!
You can count on it, Rachel!
This is so awesome. First we got Portillos, and now Lou Malnatis. Like all out of state dining treasures that come to phoenix, we treat it like the second coming.
I can’t wait, I grew up on this pizza and also want reservation for opening day.
Wow. Best news I’ve heard all year. Just wondering how you are going to get the famous Chicago tap water to make it. Thank you!!!
Being from IL, we have ordered your deep dish pizza via the internet for years. Friends in the McHenry area make us jealous by sending pictures from your restraunt of their wonderful right out of the oven pizza. I work at a school about 50 miles out of Tempe and cant wait to make a night out introducing friends and coworkers to the pizza they have been hearing me brag about for years. They dont understand why we would go through the bother of ordering frozen pizza when there are some good pizza places in area. They will soon. Cant wait until it opens. My son is drooling for that day!
How about McCall Idaho? I am tired of having to get the shipped in.
DFW feels neglected. 🙁 Phoenix gets a Portillo’s and now Lou’s. We don’t have either one!
Will gluten free pizza be offered at Phoenix location? I want to take my wife who has celiac disease to experience Malnati’s!
Hello William! Yes, we will offer two options for gluten-free pizza: one with a gluten-free crust made in a 9″ (small) thin crust style, and one in any size made from our lean sausage (made with pork) as the base and topped with your favorite ingredients. We’ll see you and your wife in May!
Can’t wait for your opening. Am waiting on email delivery of a birthday gift card for the Phx location! Won’t have to have good pizza shipped from Chicago in dry ice anymore!!
How about Chicago Style pizza in Atlanta?
Yay, Yay, Yay!!! I’m so happy and excited that Lou’s followed me from Chicago to Phoenix. Can you see me jumping up and down with JOY!!! I’ve missed you so much Lou’s!!!!! Soon it will be MY turn to send my family a picture of me stuffing MY face with Lou’s big ole’ pizza!!! 🙂
I just moved to Phoenix from Chicago and you can’t believe how happy this makes me! Out of all Chicago’s pizzas, Lou’s has remained my favorite. I can’t wait to sit down and have my first bite of a fresh “Lou” pizza–in Arizona! Hopefully, you will have lots of outdoor seating for your customers at this location. See you soon, Lou’s !! 🙂
Lived in Schaumburg for years. Retired to AZ 15 years ago. This is fantastic news.
I lived in Schaumburg for 13 years & went to Lou’s restaurants both in Schaumburg & Elk Grove for many years; had many family celebrations there. Boy, do I LOVE Lou’s pizza! Retired & moved to AZ in 2006; now order our pizza’s & Eli’s Cheesecake from your website. Thrilled that you are coming to Phoenix; well worth the trip from Mesa; CAN’T WAIT & I MEAN IT! Got married last October & now my husband is also a “big Lou Malnati” fan!
Why not Scottsdale? Portillos is in a shopping center. Recently, the building directly across from Portillos, which was a good sized restaurant, was torn down. It would be perfect for you. Plenty of parking and plenty of people. You should look at it.
So extatic about your arrival to.Phoenix. I’ve been herr 17 years from the Chicago suburbs and still feel there is no food like Chicago’s, especially your pizza. We absolutely loved your deep dish pizza and patronized Lou Malnati’s almost weekly. “THE BEST”!! Hope you expand to the west valley eventually, namely surprise.
I grew up in Lincolnwood where Lou’s is number one! My family is so excited to welcome Lou Malnati’s to Arizona. We will be in the long lines waiting to get in!
We can’t wait! Ive been eating Lou’s since I can remember! I live in Phoenix, and if there is anything I can do to help, just let me know! Plan on being crazy busy for the next 5 years, maybe you need to get a lot of traffic cones, or better yet, maybe have a lottery on who get first reservations, I know I’d camp out for Lou’s!
Finally a great pizza in Arizona
Attended both grand openings in lincolnwood and Elk Grove hope to see on opening day
This is awesome. I love your pizza’s and can’t wait for the opening. Lots of Chicago transplants here.
Thanks for coming to Phoenix!!! West valley would be great for a second location…..there is nobody who could even compare to Lou’s!!!!!!
Looking forward to Lou’s in the Phoenix neighborhood…. any chance you’ll be opening for lunch specials?
I’ve been counting the days since I heard this great news! I have two questions. Right now it shows the AZ location opens at 4pm, but the lunch special from 11-2 is on the menu. Are these late hours temporary (hoping)? Also for homemade salad dressings I didn’t see the homemade Cesar dressing on the list? This was so good when I tried it in Chicago I had to transport some home to AZ last time! Hoping it will be added as well!
Hello Liz! We’ve been counting down the days too – now it’s just a few hours away! We will eventually open for lunch, but to start, we are opening at 4pm. We will keep everyone posted on when we are changing our hours to offer lunch. I wish I had better news for you, but we actually are not offering the Caesar Salad in Phoenix, so unfortunately we will not have the Caesar dressing. We have lots of other great homemade dressings though, we’re confident you’ll find another you like just as much!
Please, please, please consider opening a location in Denver!!!
Drove up from Tucson this past weekend to enjoy time w/family & to tempt my tastebuds with your Chicago style pizza, all I can say is I ‘m in Love and I will be back! Nothing compares in the Old Pueblo, I m goin’ have to make the drive more often to the Valley to enjoy a your kind of deep dish pie/pizza in Arizona! Everything is amazing!
I’m from Chicago and recently moved to Arizona the beginning of this year. I simply love the buttery crispy crust of Lou Malnati’s. Can’t wait to visit this new location. Thanks so much for bringing a little of the MIDWEST to the SOUTHWEST. LOU MALNATI’S is the BEST hands down.
Looks like Giordano’s will be the first to penetrate the Denver market… Come to Denver before it’s too late!
Please open somewhere in the Tucson AZ – it’s a two hour drive for me to your Scottsdale location 🙁
PLEASE COME TO DENVER!!!!!! Many Chicagoans in Denver and Colorado Springs.Bring a little midwest out here. Sure do miss that pizza!