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UPDATE: The Bauer emailed a statement confirming the closure on Wednesday night. Revised story follows.
A Chicago fixture is closing its last pizzeria in the city. Marcello’s Father and Son Restaurant will close Sunday at 2475 N. Milwaukee Avenue after 72 years of serving Logan Square, according to an employee. The Bauer family, the owners of the restaurant, confirmed the closure via a statement.
After 72 years, Marcello’s Father and Son Restaurant in Logan Square will close on Sunday, July 14. Thank you to the community, neighbors and customers for your support throughout the years. We are grateful to our employees who worked hard to make Father and Son Restaurant a true Logan Square staple. We are confident the redeveloped property will contribute to the growth and thriving community of Logan Square.
First opened in 1947 on North Whipple Street and West Diversey Avenue, Father and Son is widely considered a local pizza institution, a family-friendly spot run by a family. Known for its thin, tavern-style pies, plus standout chicken wings and ribs, the restaurant used decades-old family recipes passed from one generation to another. In 1963, owners relocated across from the now-demolished Mega Mall on North Milwaukee Avenue. They added “Marcello’s” to the name when they opened a now-shuttered Old Town location which included a bakery in 1993. Another location, in Jefferson Park, closed in 2011.
The stretch of Milwaukee Avenue is popular for new restaurants and bars, including Paulie Gee’s, Daisies, and Bixi Beer. But it was problems with the building that led to the closure, according to a manager who spoke to Block Club Chicago, which first reported the story. Construction workers broke ground last summer on Logan’s Crossing, a multi-use development on the former Mega Mall site that includes 220 apartments. The restaurant’s suburban location in Northbrook will remain open, an employee said, and catering services will continue.
This is an end of an era for Father and Son fans living in Chicago. They have five days to stop by Logan Square and pay their respects.
