LITTLE VILLAGE — To celebrate is grand opening on 26th Street, Slice Factory is giving its first 100 customers free pizza on Saturday.
The Little Village shop, which quietly opened Wednesday at 3435 W. 26th St., will hand out one of its signature jumbo slices to each of the first 100 people in line when doors open at 11 a.m.
Can't make it that early?
There's also an all-day raffle, according to owner Domenico DiDiana, 28. The grand prize is free pizza for a year, which translates to one jumbo slice per day for 365 days.
The Little Village locale is the suburban chain's second Chicago location following a Lincoln Park debut in August. Slice Factory specializes in jumbo slices from its signature 30" pies.
Chatting inside the casual pizza joint Friday, DiDiana said opening a Little Village store was a no-brainer.
"We have a big following where people from this area go to our Berwyn store, which is 10 minutes down the street," DiDiana said. "We knew a lot of our customers already came from Little Village, so it was a perfect fit."
DiDiana (second from left) poses with his team. Credit: Slice Factory
DiDiana, a Chicagoland native who spent part of his childhood in Italy, launched Slice Factory in 2013. He'd been working with his parents, who own several suburban pizza shops, and merged everything under the Slice Factory name.
He's planning to launch a franchise program in January, and hopes to see Slice Factory stores in Pilsen, University Village, Wicker Park and Bucktown.
But for now, he's happy in Little Village. Since the soft open Wednesday night, lots of local employees and school children have stopped by for a slice, he said.
Slice Factory offers single jumbo slices of its thin-crust pizza for $4.99. There's also wings, salads, burgers, wraps, sandwiches and dessert. The goal is affordable, fast service.
The restaurant will also deliver a single slice of pizza.
"I think this community needs a place like this because there isn't anything like it around," DiDiana said.
"And what's nice about Little Village is that everyone knows each other here," he continued. "Everyone's welcoming. I thought since [Slice Factory] was a new business, everyone might be skeptical. But people are happy when you're here; it's been nice. With other stores, we haven't always gotten that right away."
Slice Factory sells jumbo slices for $4.99 each. Credit: Slice Factory
In addition to the two Chicago locations, Slice Factory has shops in five suburbs: Berwyn, Elmwood Park, Melrose Park, Oak Lawn and Oak Park.
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