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Armand's Pizzeria Fan, Ex-Worker, Brings Wicker Park Outpost Back to Life

By Alisa Hauser | June 25, 2015 9:23am
 Armand's Pizzeria has reopened under new owners at 2121 W. Division St.
Armands Reopens on Division Steet
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WICKER PARK — In a city so obsessed with doughy deep dish pizza, an Elmwood Park-based franchise that breaks the mold with cracker-thin cornmeal crust was in danger of closing its Wicker Park doors — until a passionate fan and former worker brought the eatery back to life.

Sal Petramala, a 34-year-old concrete layer has become the third owner of Armand's Pizzeria on Division Street in four years.

"I grew up on the pizza. I've been a busboy, a delivery driver, a bartender at the original [Armand's]," said Petramala.

With the help of two friends, Mike Brown and Brendan Laird, Petramala bought the Wicker Park franchise and reopened it on June 1 at 2121 W. Division St.

"What separates it is the crust; it is different than a lot of typical Chicago-style pizzas.  There is not as much cheese on it, too, but the cheese has a phenomenal flavor," Petramala said.

Alisa Hauser talks about how a few friends brought Armand's Pizza back to Wicker Park:

Prior to reopening, Armand's, which has about 20 seats inside and specializes in delivery, was shuttered for nearly three months, causing several folks to assume it was closed for good.

"The tables are pushed together, some of the equipment appears to have been removed and the phone line has been disconnected," the Insider's Guide observed in May.

(l.) An Italian submarine sandwich, a slice of pepperoni pizza and an artichoke salad from Armand's Pizzeria. (DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser)

Founded by two childhood friends in 1956, who decided the original name — Armand's Victory Tap — based on a coin toss, Armand's began franchising in the late 1990s and has grown to nine locations, mostly in the suburbs.

A Chicago police officer brought Armand's to Division Street in 2011 but in 2013 decided to sell the restaurant to the owners of Wicker Wash, a car wash next store.

"They are great guys. [They] just decided they did not want to run a restaurant, too," Petramala said of the second owners.

When asked how sales have been since reopening, Petramala said, "So far so good."

"The biggest problem is that we were closed for two and a half months, so people do not know we are open again. I believe in the product and the area is amazing, so we are really trying to get the word back out that we are here," he said.

Through June 30, Armand's Pizzeria in Wicker Park will be offering 25 percent off on all orders with the mention of the phrase "welcome back," Petramala said.

Armand's Pizzeria, 2121 W. Division St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Ph: 773-698-7944.

Division Armand's Wicker Park Menu by Armand's Pizzeria.