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Legendary Pizzeria Becomes a Preferred Catering & Dining Partner of Northwestern Athletics

EVANSTON, IL – (September 2, 2025) – Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Chicago’s legendary deep dish destination, and Northwestern University Athletics announced a one-year athletic partnership that makes Lou Malnati’s a Preferred Catering and Dining Partner of Northwestern Athletics.

“We’re thrilled to take our long-standing relationship with Northwestern Athletics to the next level,” said Marc Malnati, owner at Lou Malnati’s. “Northwestern has been part of the Lou Malnati’s family for years and we’re excited to officially support all Wildcat athletes, fans and community members.”

For over 22 years, Lou Malnati’s Evanston restaurant has been serving up deep dish to the Northwestern community. The partnership positions Lou Malnati’s as a preferred catering partner for Northwestern sports teams, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting student athletes by making this partnership official.

Throughout the fall season, Wildcat fans can expect to see Lou Malnati’s bringing the deep dish experience directly to campus at signature events like Welcome Week, Meet the Team events, and football games. The Lou Malnati’s tent will be packed with exclusive merchandise, interactive games and exciting prize opportunities for fans who stop by.

To celebrate this new partnership, Lou Malnati’s and Northwestern have planned special activities and promotions for the Wildcat community.

Partnership Celebration Activities:

Campus Scavenger Hunt (September 4): Students and community members can participate in a campus-wide scavenger hunt across public outdoor spaces to find 10 tote bags filled with gift cards and exclusive merchandise. Select locations will be revealed on Lou Malnati’s Instagram (@loumalnatis) starting at 10 a.m.

Enter to Win Giveaway (September 2-12): Fans can enter to win free Lou Malnati’s pizza for a year plus four tickets to the Northwestern vs. Purdue game on October 18th. Entry details are available here.

Dessert Donations, In-Store Giving, and 53rd Annual Benefit Event Support Cancer Research

CHICAGO — (August 29, 2025) – Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria invites the community to support cancer research through its 53rd Annual Cancer Research Benefit on Saturday, September 27, and various fundraising initiatives throughout September.

The annual benefit continues more than five decades of commitment that began in 1971 when Lou Malnati first organized a benefit to honor his friend who battled cancer. What started as a small gathering has grown into one of Chicago’s longest-running charitable events, raising $4 million in the last five years alone for the Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Gilda’s Club of Chicago, and Pickles Group.

Ways to Support:
Dessert to Donate Campaign (August 29 – September 30): Lou Malnati’s will donate $1 from every dessert purchased to Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Foundation.

In-Store Donations: Guests can purchase Donation Circles at all Lou Malnati’s locations throughout September or round up their bill to the nearest dollar when checking out.

Annual Benefit Event: The 53rd Annual Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Benefit will take place on Saturday, September 27, at The Matrix Club in Naperville. The evening will feature dinner, entertainment, silent and live auctions, and raffle prizes. Event tickets must be purchased in advance, and raffle tickets and donations are also available at www.LMCB.org. Raffle winners do not need to be present to win.

“For 53 years, our customers and community have helped us support vital cancer research,” said Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati’s. “Every donation, whether through our dessert-to-donate program, in-store giving, or attending our benefit, makes a difference in the fight against cancer. This cause has been close to our family’s heart since my father started this tradition.”

The Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Foundation has funded research at leading institutions and has contributed to advances in cancer treatment and patient care. All proceeds benefit cancer research efforts. For more information about donation options and benefit tickets, visit www.LMCB.org, loumalnatis.com, or any Lou Malnati’s location.

LOU MALNATI’S PIZZERIA TEAMS UP WITH CHICAGO FIRE FC TO KICK OFF PARTNERSHIP

LEGENDARY CHICAGO PIZZERIA IS PROUD TO BE THE OFFICIAL DEEP DISH PARTNER OF CHICAGO FIRE FC

CHICAGO (March 19, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC announced Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria – Chicago’s Legendary Pizza – as the proud deep dish pizza partner for the team. The Chicago collaboration will combine the delicious delicacy of Lou Malnati’s pizza with the heat of the Chicago Fire and will offer hungry fans the ultimate soccer experience. There will be various activations, game day deals and unique offers for guests while serving signature specialties and friendly hospitality to the Chicago Fire FC Team to support the staff.

To kick off the partnership, Lou Malnati’s is thrilled to offer two lucky guests a unique VIP experience, Center Circle, at the May 10 game vs Atlanta United FC. Guests who join Lou’s Rewards by May 1, 2025 will get a chance to win 2 VIP tickets at Chicago Fire VIP Ticket Giveaway which includes going on center pitch mid game to hold the Center Circle Deep Dish Pizza. Additionally, Lou’s Rewards members will receive surprise and delight treats to celebrate the season and create memorable moments. It will also provide catering for the Chicago Fire club with deep dish pizza for the players, coaches, office and staff to fuel up all season. For more fan engagement, guests can join Lou’s Rewards loyalty program for all the inside scoop here.

Lou Malnati’s will be present at Soldier Field throughout the season with game day activations and fan friendly experiences. Slice of Victory will provide unique Lou’s offers for fans to celebrate each Fire win. The home game on April 13 versus Inter Miami CF will be the Club’s most anticipated and highest attended match of the season, providing both the Fire and Lou Malnati’s the opportunity to engage and interact with a large and diverse audience. Lou Malnati’s will be bringing the heat to the Fire game with a new hot menu collaboration, game day activations and prizes at Soldier Field. Also, attendees will be able to partake in a variety of tailgate-style games, Lou’s swag and receive special offers for the pizzeria’s Chicagoland locations. For post-game treats, Lou Malnati’s will be serving up their newest collab that is so hot it is on FIRE! Tickets for the April 13 match versus Inter Miami are available starting at $79 and can be purchased HERE via Ticketmaster and 888-MLS-FIRE.

“Chicago Fire FC is thrilled to continue our partnership with legendary Chicago brand Lou Malnati’s,” said Chicago Fire FC Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Goyo Perez. “Lou Malnati’s is an incredible organization, with deep ties to the Chicagoland community, and we look forward to working with them on fun – and delicious – activations for our fans.”

“We are excited to partner with an iconic Chicago brand and legendary team like Chicago Fire FC,” said Marc Malnati, Owner of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. “We want to bring friends, family and fans together for an exclusive experience through pizza and sports. Lou Malnati’s is proud to be the official deep dish pizza partner of Chicago Fire FC and serve the team with our food, family and hospitality. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate with fans, connect with the community and support the home team.”

Additionally, Lou Malnati’s is proud to partner with the Chicago Fire Foundation as a supporting sponsor. The Chicago Fire Foundation operates a first-of-its-kind program called P.L.A.Y.S., an acronym for Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer. The Fire gives back to the local community by developing programs that reach out to the Chicagoland area. Lou Malnati’s is happy to support this program and extend their tradition of generosity to make positive contributions to the community.

For additional information on Chicago Fire FC, including information on the 2025 MLS Season, please visit: chicagofirefc.com. For regular Club updates, follow Chicago Fire FC on Twitter (@chicagofire and @vamosfire using hashtags #CF97 and #VamosFire), Instagram ( @chicagofire), TikTok ( @chicagofire), and Facebook at facebook.com/chicagofire/.

The winners of our “Will Lou Marry Me?” contest shared their special moment together at our West Loop restaurant

Louve is in the air this month! To celebrate, we launched our ‘Will Lou Marry Me’ contest on social media in search of one lucky couple who wanted to cement Lou’s as a part of their love story. This included the proposal in the restaurant, including candles, rose petals, and a heart-shaped pizza, as well as an engagement party with their loved ones and late-night bites on their wedding day.

We received hundreds of heartfelt entries, all of which explained the significant place Lou Malnati’s holds in their relationship and love story. One, however, stood out above the rest: Mitch Rozwat. Two weeks after being told he had been selected, Mitch took his girlfriend Lisa out for dinner at their favorite pizza spot. Completely unaware of what was to come, Lisa entered a room filled with candles, rose petals, a camera crew, and of course that heart-shaped pizza. Mitch got down on one knee and asked Lisa to marry him, to which she said “Yes!”. She may have thought the surprises were over with at that point, but little did she know that there was an engagement party waiting for her upstairs. A room full of friends and family ready to celebrate an unforgettable moment for Mitch and Lisa.

This magical evening proved once again that love and pizza truly go hand in hand. You can visit our Instagram to check out the full video of the engagement as it unfolded in the store. Also be sure to read below why Mitch and Lisa’s story stood out amongst the rest and made them the perfect couple to Dish Out Some Love to:

“I’ll never forget that fateful evening at Lou Malnati’s. My buddy had invited me to join him for dinner, along with a few friends. As we waited for everyone to arrive, I noticed a girl walking towards us, smiling at the group. She had this radiant energy about her.

As we introduced ourselves, I learned her name was Lisa. We started chatting, and I was surprised to discover we had something in common – we’re both one of six kids in our families! It was crazy to think that we shared that experience, and it sparked a fun conversation about our childhoods.

But what really got us going was our shared love of food. We geeked out over our favorite dishes, restaurants, and cooking techniques. I was impressed by her passion for trying new foods and her encyclopedic knowledge of Chicago’s culinary scene. And, of course, we bonded over our love of loud, boisterous meals with family and friends.

As we dug into Lou’s famous deep-dish pizza, the Chicago Classic of course, I declared it the best pizza ever. Lisa agreed, and we savored every bite of the flaky crust, tangy tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese.

As the night went on, I realized that I had found my own Chicago Classic – Lisa. Just like Lou’s pizza, she’s a timeless treasure, a true gem that makes my life richer and more flavorful.

Looking back, that chance encounter at Lou Malnati’s was the start of something special. I’m grateful for that night, for Lou’s, for my friends, and for the opportunity to meet the love of my life – my Chicago Classic, Lisa.”

Enter To Win Tickets for a Def Leppard and Journey Rock and Roll Experience in the Windy City

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, home of Chicago’s authentic deep dish pizza, has partnered with AEG Presents, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, to welcome Def Leppard and Journey to Chicago and Wrigley Field.

This July, Lou Malnati’s is cooking up something legendary in partnership with AEG Presents – Def Leppard and Journey in Chicago. Don’t stop believing in this iconic Chicago experience and get your deep dish fix any way you want it. Come see Def Leppard and Journey at Wrigley Field and pour some parm on your pizza. Check out Lou Malnati’s social and website to enter for a chance to win a pair of concert tickets in Chicago and click here for more details.

VOTE FOR LOU MALNATI’S IN THE WGN RADIO CHICAGO PIZZA MADNESS TOURNAMENT! 

Lou Malnati’s is in the running to be named best pizza in Chicago, and you can help us get there.

The WGN Radio Chicago Pizza Madness tournament is currently in the “Slice 16”, with 16 pizzerias remaining. Lou Malnati’s is located in the top right, “local chain” region of the bracket.

CLICK HERE to vote for Lou’s and help us advance to the “Elite Eats” (Final 8). Voting for this round closes on Monday morning, March 25.