 Vito & Nick's Restaurant
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy chibbqking
Check out the glowing window display at Vito & Nick's Restaurant in Chicago. This South Side favorite has been around for generations and is one of the best-known names in Chicago tavern-style pizza. The warm neon in the windows gives the place just the kind of inviting look that makes you want to stop in for a slice. 02-09
The family business dates back to the 1920s, while Vito's Tavern opened on the South Side in 1932. After several moves over the years, the restaurant settled into its current location in 1965, becoming Vito & Nick's as father and son worked side by side.
Pizza wasn't part of the original tavern, but once it was added after World War II, it quickly became the restaurant's signature. Their cracker-thin crust, cut into squares and topped with homemade sausage, has earned Vito & Nick's a loyal following far beyond Chicago. The restaurant has even been featured on television, introducing its style of pizza to a national audience.
Fortunately, the restaurant hasn't changed much over the years. It's still cash only, there's still no delivery, and the glowing windows continue to welcome customers looking for one of Chicago's classic pizza experiences.
UPDATE: Vito & Nick's remains open on Chicago's South Side and continues to serve its famous tavern-style pizza. The vintage window display and classic neighborhood atmosphere both survive. 07-26
 Pete's #2 Pizzeria
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy chibbqking
Here's the neon sign at Pete's #2 Pizzeria in Chicago. According to the glowing letters on the marquee, Pete's has been around since 1955. It's a great old neighborhood sign that has managed to survive while so many others have disappeared. 02-09
The Pete's story began in 1955 when the original pizzeria opened near Riverview Park. Today the family business is run by the third generation using many of the same recipes that made the restaurant popular decades ago.
The vintage projecting sign remains the biggest eye catcher, proudly reminding everyone how long Pete's has been serving pizza. Inside, the menu features the Italian favorites you'd expect from a longtime neighborhood pizzeria, and one thing that hasn't changed is the way they deliver. Rather than relying on third-party delivery services, Pete's still uses its own drivers, just as it has for years.
It's always nice to see an old family-run pizza place still doing things its own way, especially when the classic neon sign is still there to welcome customers.
UPDATE: Pete's #2 Pizzeria remains open in Chicago under family ownership. The vintage neon "Since 1955" marquee continues to survive. 07-26 |
 Rosangela's Pizzeria
Evergreen Park, IL
Photo and info courtesy Chibbqking
This pizza joint called Rosangela's Pizzeria has been serving Chicago's South Side since 1955. Located in Evergreen Park, Rosangela's is well known for its classic blue neon sign, which has become just as familiar to many customers as the pizza itself. Check out this site for more information. 05-09
Family owned from the beginning, Rosangela's has built a loyal following with its thin-crust Chicago tavern-style pizza. Inside, the restaurant still has the comfortable neighborhood feel that longtime customers remember, making it easy to see why generations of families have continued coming back.
The blue neon out front is what first caught my attention. It's a simple sign, but it does exactly what a good neighborhood pizza sign should do—let everyone know they've arrived. It's nice to see it still lighting up after all these years.
UPDATE: Rosangela's Pizzeria remains open in Evergreen Park and continues to operate under family ownership. The classic blue neon sign still survives. 07-26
|
