Spike Lee’s 1989 movie “Do the Right Thing” was memorable for several reasons, not the least of which was its depiction of a small, family-owned Italian pizza joint that thrived in a poor, black section of Brooklyn. In the film, Sal’s Famous Pizzeria is a landmark, one of the few places where the neighborhood’s residents are treated as valued customers.
One of Chicago’s restaurateurs is following in Sal’s footsteps.
Leona’s Pizzeria has received the go-ahead from the city to build a $1.5 million family restaurant in a long-vacant building at 235 E. 31st St. in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side.
The new eatery, the first of its kind in the area, will seat 211 and provide 48 parking spaces. Leona’s plans to hire between 75 and 100 new employees with a majority coming from the surrounding community. The family-owned company also plans to donate 5 percent to 7 percent of the restaurant’s profits to the community in the form of team sponsorships, scholarships and free catering.
“The new Leona’s will be a great addition to the Bronzeville neighborhood,” said Ald. Madeline Haithcock (2nd). “It will provide a new place for neighbors to gather and enjoy a good meal with family and friends. It will also encourage more economic development in the area.”
Indeed, Leona’s has a knack for opening in areas that are just about to boom. That was the case in Lakeview when Leona’s expanded in the early 1980s, and it was true in 1987, when the pizzeria opened in Ukrainian Village, now one of the city’s hottest areas.
“We like going into neighborhoods that are on the rebound commercially,” says Sam Toia, who co-owns Leona’s with his brother Leon.
With Leona’s South and West Side locations in Hyde Park, Morgan Park, Ford City and on Taylor Street, the Bronzeville restaurant will fill in a gap, Toia adds.
“This was just the perfect fit,” he says. “We’re doing very well on the South and West Side of the city.”
There could be room for even more Leona’s on the South Side, he adds. Other neighborhoods that look promising include South Shore and Washington Heights in the city and the Homewood-Flossmoor area in the suburbs. The Bronzeville pizzeria, which is slated to open next summer, will be Leona’s 17th.
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Monopoly power: Being home to the only American Girl Place doll emporium in the country has been a boon to Chicago’s tourism economy.
Many children and parents from outside the Windy City have stocked up on doll accoutrements and dined on Molly’s chocolate mousse flowerpot in the store’s popular cafe. Some families have even flown in from San Francisco or Boston to celebrate a daughter’s birthday.
Chicago may soon have some competition. Kevin Farr, chief financial officer of Mattel Inc., American Girl’s parent, recently told stock analysts that the company is considering an East or West Coast site for a second store because the Chicago store has been phenomenally successful.
Instead of letting those doll dollars go elsewhere, perhaps Mayor Daley should get on the horn with Mattel Chief Executive Robert Eckert and convince him a Chicago expansion is a better idea. Who knows? Eckert, a former CEO of Northfield-based Kraft Inc., may still have a soft spot in his heart for the Windy City.
Memorial: Bill Blass, who died this week at 79, undoubtedly left an important legacy to the world of fashion, but it’s not the one he will be eulogized for, according to one fashion expert.
Blass will be remembered as the man who created very expensive, dressy sportswear. He rightfully can claim to be the father of the evening sweater, according to David Wolfe, creative director of the Doneger Group, a New York fashion consulting firm.
But Blass’ real contribution is the link he forged between the rag trade and society.
“He was the first and most important 7th Avenue designer to move from below stairs into the salon,” Wolfe says. “He made the dress designer no longer hired help but a social equal.”
Whether that’s a good thing is anybody’s call.
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