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NORWOOD PARK — A longtime Norwood Park pizza spot is getting a revamp and a menu twist under new ownership.
Portage Park resident Bonni Cameron opened Bonni’s Pizzas and Subs at 7009 W. Higgins Ave. in January, serving classic Italian-style sub sandwiches, New York-style pizza and Northeastern menu items like New England clam chowder.
Originally from Boston, Cameron wanted to open up a small spot with a focus on subs that remind her of her hometown, she said at a community meeting last week.
The spot takes over Trio’s Pizza, which closed in the fall after more than 30 years in business.
Cameron took advantage of the three pizza ovens in the storefront and decided to make her own recipe for New York-style pizza, pulling inspiration from her father, a chef who owned pizzerias in Boston, she later told Block Club.
“I love New York-style pizza [so] I came up with my own recipe,” Cameron said.
The pizza comes in three sizes and can be made with traditional meat and veggie toppings. Salads, appetizers, soups and traditional sandwiches are also on the menu.
Cameron is not new to the restaurant world. She grew up in the industry, worked at various restaurants and is the owner of County Barbeque at 1352 W. Taylor St. in Little Italy.
She moved to Chicago 17 years ago and always wanted to start a small sandwich shop, she said.
When she got the opportunity to take over the Trio’s location, it seemed like a good fit for her goal and a way to further embed herself in the community, she said.
“This one is mine from scratch,” Cameron said. “It’s always what I’ve wanted to do since I moved to Chicago, and it finally came to fruition.”
Bonni’s Pizzas and Subs features her father’s “famous secret clam chowder recipe” as well as some other items served at County Barbeque. So far, popular choices include the steak and cheese hot sub, the cold Italian sub and the hot meatball sub, she said.
“There’s a lot been a lot of support from the neighborhood, which I really appreciate it,” she said at the meeting.
Her goal of meeting new people and connecting with the Far Northwest Side has been a success so far, she said. She often gets compliments and suggestions new dishes. An updated menu will be released in the coming weeks, she said.
“It’s closer to home, closer to the community I live in and I can meet more people this way,” she told Block Club. “I love being up north.”
Bonni’s Pizzas and Subs is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Monday and is closed on Tuesdays.
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