Name: Pizza Bella
Address: 16 N Brockway St, Palatine, IL, 60067, US

The story

Pizza Bella opened at this historic location with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 6, 2024, attended by Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz and a large crowd. The celebration included a champagne toast and even a priest sprinkling holy water.
Pizza Bella is an authentic Italian restaurant specializing in Detroit-style pizza, Chicago-style thin crust, and deep-dish pizza (available on Sundays). Owner Tony DeFilippis, who first opened Pizza Bella in Palatine over 15 years ago at a different location (100 W. Northwest Highway in Clock Tower Plaza), transformed the historic hardware store into a full-service restaurant and bar.
The restaurant features:

A two-story, 7,895 square-foot space with a 3,885 square-foot dining area and kitchen
82 seats with both indoor and outdoor seating
Family-friendly atmosphere with numerous TVs for sports fans
Full bar with cocktails
Expanded menu including oversized pasta dishes, appetizers, entrees, Italian ice, and soft-serve ice cream
Dine-in, takeout,

Everything that was here

2024–present
Pizza BellaRestaurant
Pizza Bella opened at this historic location with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 6, 2024, attended by Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz and a large crowd. The celebration included a champagne toast and even a…
See the map in 2025 →
1906–2019
Zimmer HardwareRetail Store
Zimmer Hardware was Palatine's oldest continuous business and a beloved community institution. Founded by Albert Zimmer in 1883, the store initially opened at the corner of Bothwell and Slade streets before moving to…
See the map in 1907 →

Did you know?

Owner Tony DeFilippis had previously operated Pizza Bella in Palatine for over 15 years at a different location before moving to this historic building.

Pizza Bella opened at this historic location on April 6, 2024, with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Jim Schwantz, transforming the 7,895 square-foot space into a restaurant and bar.

Ownership passed through several hands: Zimmer family (1883-1958), Freeman family (1958-1972), Mike Lemonidis and Dick Brumm (1972-1996), and Nancy Martino (1996-2019).

The store was famous for its narrow aisles packed floor-to-ceiling with hardware, two obsolete gumball machines at the entrance, and a legendary basement with creaky floors.

The building replaced the James Moorhouse Barber Shop, which was moved to another location when the hardware store was built.

The store initially opened at the corner of Bothwell and Slade streets before moving to 16 N. Brockway Street shortly after.

Zimmer Hardware was Palatine's oldest continuous business, founded by Albert Zimmer in 1883 and operating for 136 consecutive years until 2019.

The current building was constructed around 1906 to house Zimmer Hardware, one of Palatine's most historic businesses.

Explore the full web of connections on the map.

Add it on the map

Pizza Bella

The story

Everything that was here

Pizza BellaRestaurant

Zimmer HardwareRetail Store

Did you know?

Connected places

Station 34

Pizzeria Uno

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

Gino's East

White House Inn

First Village Hall & Fire Station

Nearby history

Mexico Uno

Monson Jewelers

Madcats

TJ O'Brien's Bar &Grill

Bob's Palatine Inn / Palatine Inn / The Office

American Legion Post 690