EDGEWATER — Pete’s Pizza, one of the oldest pizzerias in the city, was closed for business this week, and while management cited computer issues, police said there’s a state investigation into the business.
Chicago Police officers working in the 24th District were providing “perimeter support” at the Pete’s pizzerias in North Center and Edgewater Tuesday. Officers were supporting the Illinois Department of Revenue, said Officer Jessica Alvarez, a Chicago Police spokesperson.
Attempts to reach Pete’s owners were unsuccessful. Employees who answered phones at both locations said the restaurants were having “computer issues” and would reopen Thursday.
A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Revenue declined to comment, citing taxpayer confidentiality laws.
“The Illinois Department of Revenue does not comment on investigations, or their existence, due to taxpayer confidentiality laws,” said Terry Horstman, a spokesperson for the state agency.
Neighbors and nearby workers said they noticed what appeared to be police activity at the North Center location of Pete’s at 3737 N. Western Ave., at about 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to an employee at a nearby business. The restaurant was also closed for the day.
“They didn’t look like regular Chicago Police,” said an employee at H&S Cabinets, 3759 N. Western Ave.
Multiple shop owners, who asked not to be named, said they also saw what looked like law enforcement at Pete’s Pizza in Edgewater, 1100 W. Granville Ave., around the same time — 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The pizzerias were closed Wednesday and Thursday as well.
Spike King, 58, who was working a construction job near the Edgewater location, said he spotted police officers at the restaurant on Tuesday. He said they were there for about two hours, took what appeared to be files and left.
“They were Chicago Police,” he said. “They all had Chicago Police on their backs.”
A new sign went up at the Edgewater location Thursday, saying it would re-open at 4 p.m.
Other law enforcement agencies declined to comment.
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