Chances are, if you’ve stopped by our first out-of-state pizzeria in Phoenix, you’ve seen Marc Malnati. He’s been there almost every day since we opened, talking to customers about their Malnati memories, our move to Phoenix, and most of all, our legendary deep dish pizza!
Here’s a special message from Marc:
I want to take a minute to thank the nearly 10,000 people of the greater Phoenix area that have made the effort to visit us, for the warmest reception that we could ever imagine. Your willingness to drive 30-40 miles and then to wait in long lines before having your first meal at our new restaurant has absolutely blown us away!
Our biggest goal in opening our first store outside of Chicago is to become an inextricable part of this community, while continually bringing you the best pizza we know how to make. We hope that you have felt as welcomed by me and our team as we have by you!
And for those of you that have yet to stop over, we hope you will give us a chance to make your day sometime very soon.
Marc Malnati
If you’re planning to make your first (or second…or third…fourth?!) trip to our new Phoenix pizzeria, we are located at 100 E Camelback Road in the Uptown Plaza Shopping Center. Stop by anytime Sunday-Thursday 4-11pm, or Friday & Saturday 4pm-Midnight.
Comments (44)
Knowing that Lou Malnati’s was going to open in Phoenix made moving here so much sweeter! We missed excellent deep dish and couldn’t wait for you to open! Any plans to open in Mesa, close to where the Cubs have spring training?
Hi Diane, thank you for your comment! We are focusing on our first pizzeria in Phoenix right now, but stay tuned for updates on where we are headed next! We’ll post any info we have as soon as we make any decisions.
Hey Marc,
What about Las Vegas? We could sure use some Malnati’s love out here too.
Hi Bob, no plans for Lou’s in Las Vegas right now, but you never know what the future holds!
So glad you are here!! You’re my favorite pizza from growing up in Chicago. Now I do not have order from 1-800-Lou-To-Go!
Would be GREAT to have a Lou Malnati’s in Mesa near Cub’s Spring training. Portillo’s is doing very good! Hint Hint Plus, hurry and open for lunch so it’s easier getting to Phoenix and back home before rush hour traffic! I’m craving your pizza!
We drove from Huntington Beach Ca on Sunday for a slice of pie.
Wow, that’s some serious Lou’s dedication right there, Sandra! Thanks for making the trip, we hope you enjoyed your pizza.
Hey Marc and Family I wish you the best od luck in your new Phoenix location….I always tell people I have know you since grade K when we were kids!!! I am a great advertiser of the best pizza ever with none other than butter crust~~~Laurie B
Please think about LAS VEGAS.
Us here in Las Vegas would really love to have a Lou’s!
Lots of Chicagoans in Vegas! We need you in Vegas!!!
Los Angeles Westside or the San Fernando Valley is home to Chicago diehard Lou Malnati fans… Please don’t forget us when looking for new areas to open. We have a few good pizzas yet not ONE comes close to being like Lou Malnati’s.
How about Tucson? There are many Chicago transplants who really miss Lou Malnati’s, too. Oro Valley would make a great first location. Please add us to your expansion!
North Scottsdale??? Please???
Minneapolis western suburbs please!
We drove 30 miles from N Scottsdale to have ‘home cooking’ again. In addition to two hot pizzas to go, we just HAD to buy four additional frozen pizzas. So good…mmmmm…why fly to Chicago when we can eat it here? Portillos and Lou Malnatti’s in the same area!!!! Anticipating your next location in N Scottsdale with hunger pains all ready!!!!!
We need a Malnati’s in Tucson so We don’t have to drive 100 miles to get a Good Pizza. A lot of Chicago people live in Tucson (Northen Tucson)
We need you here on the west valley Marc. I already pick the name: Surprise Lou Malnati’s! Remember me?
How soon will you be opening for lunch hours? I would love some hometown deep pizza but your line on a weekend evening was just too long….
Hi Corissa, we will be opening for lunch at 11am, starting on Monday, June 6th! See you then!
HI Mark Malnatis and Mark Agnew! I’m the one with the I Knew Lou shirts. I’ve been there 3X already and this time sat at the bar. Carl from your Gold Coast location was fabulous. Don’t forget that Chandler has over 260,000 residents and many from Chicago. We could use both carry out ant restaurant here. As a former Lincolnwooders, how can you deny me? LOL
Thanks for the suggestion, Karen! Glad to hear you’ve been back so many times. We’ll be sure to pass this along to Carl as well. Hope to see you again soon!
We had our rehearsal dinner at the original Lou Malnati’s on Lincoln almost 43 years ago and we visit Lou’s on every trip back home. We’ve lived in the Phoenix East Valley for almost 37 years!
We drove up to the new Phoenix Lou Malnati’s to celebrate my birthday on Tuesday, May 31st. It was a long drive from Gilbert but definitely worth it! It seems that a logical location for a second Lou Malnati’s would be close to the Cubs Spring Training facility off the 101, near the 202. There are loads of Chicago ex-pats living in the East Valley cities of Mesa, Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert. Plus, Scottsdale is easily accessible on the 101! Hope you think about an east valley location! See you soon in Phoenix and later this summer in Lincolnwood!!! We’re so happy you’re here! Thank you!
Hi Deb, we’re so happy your birthday dinner was worth the drive! And thanks for the tip for our next location. We’re still focusing on our first Phoenix pizzeria right now, but will keep this in mind for any future plans. Hope to see you again soon, whether it’s in Phoenix or Lincolnwood!
Having you in Phoenix means I get more room in my suitcase for other stuff and not frozen pizzas any more on my monthly trips between Lincolnwood and Chandler!!! TSA laughs about seeing 3-4 pizzas on the xrays!
Our family moved here 4 years ago and we joked that the only thing we missed about Illinois was Lou Malnatis…..well, we no longer miss anything about Illinois (well, except for some family members still stranded there đŸ™‚ )
Our family came to your restaurant to celebrate graduations! I want to thank you for the incredible hospitality!!!! We waited in line and your restaurant couldn’t have been more gracious. You had people standing outside offering little tastings every now and again and constantly they were constantly offering bottles of water. You truly know how to treat your customers! Being from Chicago there has always been two things that Phoenix just did not have…GREAT PIZZA and customer service. Thank you for bringing both of these to Phoenix! Shari
Thanks so much, Shari. Our Phoenix team will be happy to hear your feedback! Thanks for being a loyal Lou’s fan!
Gilbert is where you need to be! Lots of Chicago transplants here.
Went to the soft open. Met Rick. Just moved here from Chicago 2-15-16. Pie was great. +1 on North Scottsdale as location #2 for PHX.
Thank you for offering a dairy free crust and sauce! I have sensitivities to animal proteins but was still able to enjoy the deliciousness of your pizza. Welcome to the neighborhood and I can’t wait to go back!
Been there twice now! Love, love, love your pizza. I was thrilled when I heard you were opening here, now I don’t have to have the pizza shipped in. Great you are opening for lunch now. Thank you for making Phoenix your second home. My friends and I use to meet at your Lincoln Ave location or Higgins Road, moved to AZ Last year and now I can get a piece of home here. Hope you add more spots, even just carry out locations.
It would be a great move for Lou’s to open in southwest Florida . There are so many people down in the Naples to Fort Myers area to be very successful down here. Recently Rosati’s has opened three locations down here, Aurelio’s has been here for about 8 years. Nobody does it like Lou’s.
Thanks for choosing central Phoenix! You are 8 minutes from my house. No more 6-pack shipments from Chicago. It’s a dream come true!
Waiting for your Surprise AZ location. Lots of retirees in the northwest Valley. Four Sun Cities and numerous other retirement communities out here!
Dear Marc,
As life would have it, I have delayed in sending you this heartfelt message for years.
My daughter served as an inner-city intern and attended Lawndale church in the mid 2000’s. We visited her for a few days and attended church and also had a scrumptious meal at Lou Malnati’s just up the street from the church.
When I heard the backstory of what you were doing, I realized that there are huge hearts that have looked beyond pure corporate profit. You made a business decision to give back to the community. As I watched the employees, I realized that there was something magical, beyond our worldly thoughts of success, going on here.
I do not have the opportunity to visit Chicago often. My daughter has since married and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. However, for a special treat my wife or one of the kids will order a few pizzas as a gift to the dad.
Thank you for your heart. Please express our gratitude to your family for striving to make this place a world of hope.
Mike Freeman
Akron Ohio
Bradenton Florida!!! Portillos is opening on 75 and 64, and you can still get a spot at this location. It would be a gigantic success!
Mark I was born and raised Old Chicago and raised five children there as well. Introduced to your pizza on Lincoln Avenue and now living Yuma Arizona. In the foothills, of Yuma oh, my neighbor just cleared 5 large lights four restaurants on the main drag and believe me Lou Malnati’s would absolutely Rock in that area his name is Ross Waite and he owns Yuma East real estate. There is no birds from as far as Canada and Alaska that come down here 6 to 8 months a year and believe me you wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand.
Marc…..Surprise AZ has to be a GOLDMINE for Lou’s.
Please, please, Tucson. So many Chicagoans in Tucson, Oro Valley and Green Valley.
How about a location in Tucson?
Orlando, biggest tourist location, and nome to many Chicago transplants NEEDS a Lou’s, please! Portillo’s and White Castle are opening soon! We need LOU’S!!!!
Dear Marc,
I have been a loyal Malnati’s customer since 1987. Before I I lost my husband to cancer in 2006 and my son moved to Chicago we used to order pizza every month from the Wilmette, IL location.
I learned that the company was acquired by Meritage. This is probably why there have been unfortunate changes.
Unless I had guests, when half of the pizza was with vegetables, I always ordered thin crust cheese pizzas and wrote “extra sauce” in the special instructions section.
On January 21st I ordered a large cheese thin crust pizza and a salad. I noticed that I would have paid over $3 for a ladleful of sauce. I thought it was an outrageous charge for some extra sauce. I didn’t ask for it. The pizza was dry and tasteless. I contacted the Wilmette location and filled out the form on the website. They were adamant about claiming that extra sauce is considered a topping, although it is under the cheese, so not a topping.
What a way to value a customer of 37 years!
I hope you personally will read this message. I’m sure you would be disappointed about the way Lou Malnati’s location are being managed now.
Sadly, I will no longer order from Malnati’s. There are many pizza restaurants in Winnetka, IL who would never charge for a little sauce.