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.”
PHOENIX, AZ — (May 23, 2024) – Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, based in Chicago, IL, announced that it will officially make Surprise, AZ home to its ninth location in the Phoenix metro area. The famous deep dish pizzeria is slated to open its newest location in Fall 2024, currently under construction, at 13382 N Prasada Parkway in Surprise, AZ. The new space is coming soon to the Village at Prasada in a free-standing building with patio in an established retail and restaurant area, adjacent to other local favorites, at the southwest corner of W Waddell Rd and N Prasada Parkway. It’s conveniently located near Loop 303 and Waddell Road in the West Valley.
Lou Malnati’s opened its first restaurant in Phoenix in 2016, followed by locations in Arcadia, Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and most recently in Tempe in December 2022. The 6,100 square foot space will be a full-service restaurant and bar offering dine-in, carryout, delivery, curbside pick-up and drop off catering services for hungry fans in the Surprise area. The delicious menu is highlighted by the legendary deep dish pizza and offers tasty thin crust along with signature appetizers, salads, pastas and desserts. The new restaurant will offer a real deep dish dining experience and include a dining room, full-service bar, outdoor patio and more. Featuring a contemporary design, it will seat approximately 220 guests for indoor dining with room for about 75 additional guests for outdoor dining.
The Malnati family has become famous for their original deep dish pizza recipe, top-notch quality, and hospitality since opening in 1971. The company is still owned and operated by second generation family members as Lou Malnati’s son, Marc Malnati, proudly carries on the family tradition and honors their legacy. Celebrating over 50 years in business, Lou Malnati’s currently operates 80 locations in Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Phoenix.
Malnati’s looks forward to opening a new full-service restaurant in the greater Phoenix area and expanding its footprint in Arizona. The iconic pizzeria wants to provide a taste of Chicago to the Windy City transplants and residents in the Valley. “Since our first location opened in Arizona, we’ve received a warm welcome from our loyal fan base in Phoenix,” said owner, Marc Malnati. “Our team is excited to expand in the West Valley and make a new home in the city of Surprise. We’re thrilled to bring our authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza to the Village at Prasada and become immersed in the diverse, vibrant, and thriving community,” added Marc Malnati. “We’re committed to providing jobs at our restaurants while supporting the local communities we serve and we’re humbled by all our loyal customers who love our food, family, and hospitality,” Malnati added.
In addition to serving up their famous deep dish, the company believes in becoming ingrained in the local communities they serve. The pizzeria is well known for giving back and supporting local charities and schools through fundraisers, sponsorships, and volunteer involvement. The Malnati tradition of generosity will continue through youth incentive programs, generous donation programs, and working with local organizations in Surprise and the surrounding communities. For more information, please visit Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in the Valley.
While it’s been an extremely difficult year, we are excited to reopen in the heart of the Chicago! Located at 410 N Michigan Avenue, Lou Malnati’s Michigan Avenue offers dine-in, a full bar, carryout, delivery, and catering services. Our 10,000 square foot restaurant seats approximately 200, which will be reduced temporarily due to COVID-19 capacity restrictions. The historic location also has a unique retail space where Lou Malnati’s fans can purchase exclusive apparel and other Lou’s crew gear.
Marc Malnati shared some of his thoughts on the reopening. He said,
“Malnati’s is not only celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, we’re also honored to reopen our flagship location in the iconic Wrigley Building. We’re ready to welcome guests back to our vibrant city and look forward to returning to normalcy.”
We look forward to serving you soon!
In 1995, Lou Malnati’s Lawndale opened with the goal of helping to rejuvenate the neighborhood and serve the residents of Lawndale delicious pizza, of course! We promised to give any profits from the store back to the community to benefit children’s educational and recreational programs. In 2011, the Lawndale restaurant turned its first profit, and as promised, the money was donated back to the community.
We hired local and we partnered with the Lawndale Community Church to create a job-training program for residents of the church’s recovery program, Hope House, to get them back in the working world. We hoped to be a gathering place for the neighborhood. A place where milestones and celebrations could be had in an area where not many restaurants ventured. In 2011, the Lawndale restaurant turned its first profit, and as promised, the money was donated back to the community. Despite years falling short on profits, the strength and success of the project was found in the community. Those who have served within the Lawndale store will tell you their hearts were forever changed by the relationships forged within its walls. Lives were rebuilt and faith restored, by both employer and employees.
After 25 years in Lawndale, we remain resolute in our commitment to this community. We are reminded to expand our horizons and break down barriers which prevent us from relationships and experiences that will enrich our team and company for the better.
We love being a part of the Lawndale community, and we’re looking forward to many more years of giving back!
The new pizzeria is currently under construction at 18W080 22nd Street in Oakbrook Terrace, IL and will open for carryout and delivery only to start. Take a peek at ongoing construction in this video!
For the latest updates and information about Lou Malnati’s Oakbrook Terrace, please join our email list.
Check out all of our options in this video.
We are proud to offer outdoor dining at select Lou Malnati’s locations:
Chicago Suburbs: Elk Grove Village, Evanston, Lakewood, Naperville, Schaumburg, and Tinley Park
City of Chicago: Gold Coast, Lincoln Square, West Loop, Lincoln Park, and River North.
Arizona: Phoenix and Scottsdale
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