PILSEN — Giordano's will open its next restaurant on 18th Street in Pilsen, officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
The restaurant, known for its Chicago-style deep dish pizza, plans to open at 1401 W. 18th St. in Pilsen in early fall, said Jessica Wenson, Giordano's spokeswoman.
Giordano's Pilsen will be located at the busy 18th Street and Blue Island intersection in the same building as Ald. Danny Solis' 25th Ward offices. Solis said Wednesday that he plans to move the 25th Ward offices to a building at 1645 W. 18th St. in October.
The move will help alleviate foot traffic at the busy intersection and ensure ward residents can easily access the office, he said.
Giordano's isn't the only deep dish pizza purveyor moving to the neighborhood. Earlier this month, Gino's East also announced plans to open a Pilsen restaurant.
Solis said the opening of two new pizza restaurants will be "a good thing."
"There's a lot of economic vitality that these two pizzerias will bring to the neighborhood," he said.
As part of a larger expansion, Giordano's announced plans for a franchise location in April, Crain's Chicago reported.
While an exact location or opening date for Gino's East has not yet been confirmed, officials said their Pilsen restaurant would have a special menu inspired by the recently opened Gino's East restaurant in Mexico City.
Both founded in Chicago, today Giordano's and Gino's East both operate a number of restaurants.
The first Giordano's opened on the South Side in 1974. The Chicago-based chain operated locations in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Florida.
The Original Gino's East opened in 1966 just off Michigan Avenue and Superior Street. Also a Chicago-based chain, Gino's East operates locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas and Mexico City.
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