Chicago-Based Lou Malnati's to Open at Uptown Plaza Shopping Center in Phoenix Next Year

We already told you that one of Chicago's most famous pizzerias, Lou Malnati's, was planning to open a location in Phoenix, and now we know exactly where the chain's first out-of-state restaurant will be. Today the company announced the new pizzeria will be located at 100 E. Camelback Road., Suite...

By Lauren Saria

November 3, 2015

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We already told you that one of Chicago's most famous pizzerias, Lou Malnati's, was planning to open a location in Phoenix, and now we know exactly where the chain's first out-of-state restaurant will be.

Today, the company announced the new pizzeria will be located at 100 East Camelback Road, Suite 152, in the Uptown Plaza Shopping Center in Central Phoenix. The shopping center, which is located on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Camelback Road, is currently undergoing major renovations and is poised to become the next CenPho dining hub. In addition to getting the state's first location of Lou Malnati's, Uptown Plaza eventually will be home to Arizona's second Shake Shack (the first will open at Scottsdale Fashion Square), and a third location of Sam Fox's Flower Child restaurant.

The restaurant is expected to open in May 2016 and will offer approximately 6,800 square feet of inside space and 1,500 square feet of outdoor patio space for a total of about 240 seats.

Windy City transplants who might be worried about the authenticity of the product at the first Lou Malnati's to open outside Chicagoland will be happy to hear that the company is permanently relocating five members of the Chicago management team to Arizona. The company plans to attempt to replicate the pH balance of Chicago water as well, to ensure the pizzas in Arizona still have the restaurant's signature flaky, buttery crust.

Lou Malnati's has 42 locations in the Chicago area and is considered the oldest name family name in Chicago pizza. For more information, check the Lou Malnati's website.

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