Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria last month opened the doors to its first out-of-Chicago eatery, located in the Uptown Plaza at the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Camelback Road. The line on opening day was reportedly out the door and down the sidewalk as deep-dish pizza lovers prepared to dig in.
“It is a historic day for the Lou Malnati’s organization,” says Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati’s. “We are thrilled with the reception we’ve received for bringing our authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza to Arizona. The team in Phoenix and our entire organization is committed to bringing the same level of quality, atmosphere and hospitality that we are known for in Chicago.”
Malnati and company management selected Phoenix as its first out-of-Chicago location because of the strong Chicago ex-pat presence and Phoenix was a top ship-to location for the Lou Malnati’s mail order division, Tastes of Chicago.
Considered the oldest family name in Chicago pizza, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is a legendary company with 45 Chicagoland locations. There has been a member of the Malnati family running the business since it started in 1971. The Malnati’s signature deep dish is made from a proprietary recipe that has been handed down through four generations. There is also a gluten-free option whose recipe was crafted in partnership with Deerfields Bakery in Chicago.
The company has big plans for the Valley; Malnati predicts opening an additional eight to 10 locations.
Lou Malnati’s Phoenix will open for lunch starting June 1, and at that time, the permanent hours will be 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
The new location has approximately 6,800 square feet of inside space and 1,500 square feet of outdoor patio space. Carryout, delivery and catering services are available. Prepare to wait a half hour for your deep-dish pie to be cooked; while waiting, try one of the tasty salads including the signature Malnati Salad, or a hearty cup of minestrone soup.
To see the full menu, visit www.loumalnatis.com/arizona or follow them on Facebook.
