Say the name “Malnati’s” and the ears of Chicagoans in any room will likely perk up, no matter where you are. Whether you’re a fan of the legendary Lou’s or your favorite’s something else on the impressive 128 location bracket WGN’s got going, you know that Malnati’s is an institution, producing pies both deep dish and thin crust that we’d pit against any other pizza in the country.
Today, March 17, marks the anniversary of the beginning of the business for owner/operator Lou himself.
A little trivia for you: The first Malnati’s location opened in Lincolnwood in 1971.
This afternoon's Instagram reel by @LouMalnati's.
As for the auspicious St. Patrick’s day opening, it’s not seeming so accidental, as according to loumalnati’s.com “Lou always thought it was funny that an Italian should open a pizzeria in a Jewish neighborhood on an Irish holiday.” but that it was “just Lou’s style.”
It’s our style in Chicago to own St. Patrick’s day as our very own holiday, but Lou Malnati’s is tossing in a little pot of gold for people who prioritize pizza.
In honor of the 54th anniversary, an always jovial Lou appeared in this Instagram reel to share an amusing anecdote about his favorite memory of Lou’s, which includes a few more automobile accidents than you’d think would be in that kind of story.
The pot of gold? A celebratory promo code that will net you a $19.71 Large Cheese Deep Dish or a $19.71 Extra Large Cheese Thin Crust.
This has gone wrong with a lot of other places who offer anniversaries, so if you use the promo code do it with the foreknowledge that these things sometimes spin out of control, but we’d spin the wheel on that to get the golden brown deliciousness of a perfectly crusted Lou’s cheese anyway.