Pizza Castle now open in Hickory Hills
After almost five decades of serving pizzas from a small storefront in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood, Pizza Castle co-owner Richard Jensen had an opportunity to move into a bigger space and he jumped at the chance.
So, Jensen packed up the family business and made the move a few miles south to Hickory Hills.
Pizza Castle held a grand opening last Thursday at its new location at 7737 W. 95th St. in the Ricky Rockets plaza.
“The best news,” Jensen said. “Was that the pizzas are the same.”
He was worried because the pizza oven that he had been using since taking over the business in 1973 was too big to make the move to the new location and he had to buy a new oven.
“It was a great oven,” he said hinting that someone might want to move in and start up a new pizzeria.
“The oven is key to making good pizza,” he said. “So far, people are happy.”
Pizza Castle was already the name of the pizzeria when his brother Paul bought the place.
“We talked about changing the name, but decided to leave it be,” he said.
Pizza Castle was and remains a family business. Jensen’s wife, Kathy, and his sons Erik, Rick and Kris are all part of the staff. Kris is also a North Palos firefighter.
Jensen said the new location is about three times the size of the Gage Park location. “We went from about 750 square feet to 2,200 square feet,” he said. “We now have a walk-in cooler. Ten tables for sit down service. And we have outdoor seating.”
The new place also comes with a seven-seat bar that will allow Pizza Castle to offer gaming machines, as soon as their license is approved.
“We’ll have four machines, but we needed a liquor license. We only will sell beer and wine.”
Pizza Castle features very thin crust pizza. It has two house specialties: The King Arthur has sausage, mushrooms, green pepper and onion; the Pie by Di has sausage, mushroom, pepperoni and jalapeños. Pizza sizes range from 10-inch to 18-inch.
The menu also includes sandwiches, pasta, wings, calzones and shrimp.
In addition to the new dine-in option, Pizza Castle offers catering, delivery and take out. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They are still hiring, if interested.
University Park company donates food to 4 area pantries
The Dot Foods Chicago distribution center in University Park just made a sizable donation to four area food pantries.
Through the company’s Neighbor to Neighbor program, the distribution center gave four area food pantries $5,000 worth of products from Dot’s inventory for a total donation of $20,000 worth of food and other necessities. Dot Foods is the largest food industry redistributor in North America.
This year’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor recipient pantries were New Lenox Township Food Pantry; Faith Movers Church in University Park; Action: Love Pantry in Monee; and Alicia’s House in Chicago Heights.
Each food pantry selected products from a shopping list of Dot’s inventory that would
best address their needs. Dot employees are helping food pantry staff and volunteers unload the donations at each location.
“All the food we receive is through donations,” said Jim Pitcairn, facilities, and programs director at New Lenox Food Pantry. “We are unique as the patrons are allowed to shop as if it was a grocery store. It allows our patrons to choose as to what they would like to cook for meals that week. They are not just handed a box of food. It is always exciting to receive such wonderful donations so we can assist our neighbors in need, to see that smile, or the look of relief that the worry of nutrition has dissipated.”
“The Neighbor-to-Neighbor donations will greatly assist our efforts to bring healthy food options to the University Park area,” said Ryan Thomas, director of church affairs at Faith Movers Church. “This city is lacking grocery stores, and Faith Movers Church has been able to help bridge the gap of resources for many
homes.”
“We are seeing a sharp decline in the amount of food we are able to order for the food bank, and our bags that we pack have been definitely less full each week,” said Kelly Dettlaff, director of Action: Love Pantry. “We will be very grateful to have any partners help provide food and other items to our community. We believe it takes a village to come alongside and help our families.”
“Partnering with Dot to provide much needed food to families in our area is a huge blessing,” said Juan Hernandez of Alicia’s House. “Dot’s donation will allow Alicia’s House to increase the amount of food we are giving to our families we serve. This couldn’t come at a better time when the price of everything is skyrocketing. Dot’s donation will help families fill that gap.”