Beloved Garfield Ridge staple Obbie’s Pizza has gone dark for now, after a fire ripped through its Archer Avenue storefront on Friday, leaving the building boarded up and employees suddenly out of work. The family that runs the shop said everyone made it out safely and no one was hurt, but the damage will mean repairs and a remodel before the ovens fire up again. In the meantime, neighbors and nearby restaurants have moved quickly to help Obbie’s staff and keep regulars in pizza while the rebuilding gets underway.
Fire forces temporary closure
The blaze at the Archer Avenue storefront forced Obbie’s to close its doors while the owners assess the damage and determine what it will take to reopen. According to Southwest Regional Publishing, the Obbie’s family thanked firefighters and first responders for their work at the scene and told customers they will share updates on the rebuilding process through social media as plans take shape.
The family also told customers that any prepaid orders will be refunded while they remain closed and pointed diners toward a sister restaurant so folks can still get their usual fix while crews tackle repairs. A nearby pizzeria has already pledged a fundraiser to help support Obbie’s staff during the shutdown.
Neighbors step up with fundraisers
Triano’s Pizza, another neighborhood favorite, publicly offered to pitch in, saying it would donate part of one day’s sales to Obbie’s employees. On social media, the shop wrote that “Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and while we may be competitors, we’re neighbors first.” As reported by Southwest Regional Publishing, Triano’s plans to donate 25 percent of all in-person and phone orders placed on Sunday to Obbie’s staff, and customers can make sure their purchase counts by mentioning “Obbies” when they order.
The Obbie’s family has also steered loyal customers to Villa Rosa as another option for pizza while their doors stay closed, a small show of how tight-knit the local restaurant scene is, even among competitors.
What comes next for Obbie’s
The closure and the fast show of support from the neighborhood were also featured in a FOX 32 Chicago video posted on Tuesday, highlighting how deeply Obbie’s is woven into Garfield Ridge’s routine. Online listings and reviews show Obbie’s has been a fixture in the area for decades, staying put at its Archer Avenue address. TripAdvisor also lists the longtime pizzeria at that location.
Customers and even competitors say they are hopeful the family can rebuild after the fire. For now, the Obbie’s family is asking for patience while they work through repairs and process refunds for prepaid orders. Neighbors say they will keep ordering pizza around the neighborhood and keep an eye on that boarded-up storefront, waiting for the day the familiar sign lights up again.
