The story
Lou and Jean Malnati opened the first Lou Malnati's in Lincolnwood on March 17, 1971. Lou died of cancer in 1978 and Jean and sons Marc and Rick built the business, funding cancer research through an annual charity event held since 1971. By 2025 there were 61 restaurants in Chicagoland plus Phoenix, Milwaukee and Indianapolis, and Yelp named it America's top large pizza chain.
Everything that was here
- 1971–present · still open
Lou Malnati's PizzeriaDeep-Dish Pizza
Lou Malnati learned deep dish from his father Rudy at Pizzeria Uno and opened his own place on St. Patrick's Day 1971; today the family chain has 80 restaurants.
See the map in 1972 →
Connected places
Pizzeria Uno
Chicago, IL
What came before
Gino's East
Chicago, IL
More deep-dish pizza
Pizza Bella
Palatine, IL
More deep-dish pizza
Explore the full web of connections on the map.
Nearby history
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