Fat Chris’s Pizza And Such, the Andersonville pizzeria known for its Detroit-style pies, will close this month after nine years in business, the owners announced. Co-owners Michael Milazzo and Violeta Djukic said the restaurant’s final day of service will be May 22, 2026, citing rising food and operating costs as the reason. Since opening in 2017, the neighborhood spot has been a lunchtime and takeout staple.
According to Block Club Chicago, the owners shared the closing news on social media and told the outlet that sales at the restaurant nearly doubled after the announcement. They said they plan to keep slinging pies through May 22 while they weigh what might come next.
Milazzo told Block Club Chicago that ingredient costs had become untenable, noting that a case of tomatoes jumped from roughly $20 to about $80, and "we just know it's not sustainable, unfortunately." He added, "we can't keep raising our prices, because at some point people aren't going to be coming at all."
Costs Squeezing Small Restaurants
Rising ingredient and operating costs have been putting pressure on independent restaurants across the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that "food away from home" prices were up 3.8% year over year in March 2026, underscoring how restaurant prices have climbed in recent months. For small pizzerias already working with thin margins, sharp spikes in wholesale items can quickly force tough choices between raising prices, trimming staff, or closing altogether.
A Local Fixture Since 2017
Fat Chris’s opened on Foster Avenue in 2017 and became known for its Detroit-style pies and lunch crowd, as noted by Hoodline. The restaurant’s contact page lists its address at 1706 W. Foster Ave., and the owners said they will keep serving through May 22 before closing the dining room.
Milazzo and Djukic said they are not ruling out opening another restaurant in the future and thanked regulars for their support in the final weeks. For Andersonville neighbors who have made Fat Chris’s part of their routine, the closing is another reminder of just how tight the margins have become for independent restaurants in Chicago’s neighborhoods.
