LOGAN SQUARE — Lou Malnati’s is bringing its butter-crusted deep dish pies to Logan Square.
The iconic pizza chain is opening an outpost at Fullerton and Kimball avenues in the former home of Scrub-A-Dub laundromat, according to city permits and Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th).
Lou Malnati’s officials approached the 35th Ward office about opening a restaurant at 3333 W. Fullerton Ave. a few months ago, Ramirez-Rosa said. They received a permit to build out the space Dec. 1, city records show.
Chicago Cityscape was first to report on the permit.
Founded in 1971, Lou Malnati’s is one of Chicago’s most popular deep dish pizza restaurants.
The chain has 79 locations in Illinois, Arizona, Wisconsin and Indiana.
It’s unclear when the Logan Square restaurant will open. Officials didn’t respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The news comes about a year after Ramirez-Rosa rezoned the Fullerton Avenue property at the request of community groups, the alderman said. It is now zoned for retail shops and apartments above like the other buildings on the block, he said.
“We want to have contiguous shopping districts, and we want to make sure Fullerton is developed in a way that helps support local businesses,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
Lou Malnati’s will bring new life to the site, which has sat vacant since Scrub-A-Drub laundromat closed sometime last year.
“I’m happy to see a vacant building utilized and happy to see a Chicago business with a long history find a new home in the 35th Ward,” Ramirez-Rosa said.