In the same week, Lou Malnati's announced they were handing out a bunch of free slices of pizza, and then told everyone their flagship restaurant was closing.

Having shared the news about the giveaway and now this, it's clear I'm a fan of their pizza.

I'm not the only one, as the chain has grown so large that they opened a spot in Rockford less than a decade ago and have expanded across the United States as well.

However, people come from far and wide to visit Chicago, and when they do, they try to get some pizza. If they're looking for spots that scream "CHICAGO PIZZA," they go to Lou Malnati's.

READ MORE: Two Chicago Pizza Spots Named America's Best New Joints

Robin Marchant, Getty Images
Robin Marchant, Getty Images
Robin Marchant, Getty Images

The Gold Coast: A Historic Destination for Chicago Tourists

Oftentimes, tourists stay in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, and that's where the classic Lou Malnati's location is. Soon, I'll be saying "was" because the news broke today that Lou Malnati's at 1120 North State Street will be closing up shop.

That's a stunner for me, because as recently as just a few years ago, I was over at that exact location, and it was teeming with people. Turns out, it's not a customer issue, but something altogether different.

READ MORE: The Only Way To Get This Chicago Pizza Is To Know Where To Look

Scott Olson, Getty Images
Scott Olson, Getty Images
Scott Olson, Getty Images

The Real Reason Behind the Sudden Closing Date

Lou Malnait's was informed that their lease would not be renewed by the group that just purchased the building in September of 2025. So it's the end of an era for Lou Malnati's in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, as they will be packing up rather quickly, with the restaurant announcing their closing date is June 30.

LOOK: Top pizza chains in the US

To help you find your next slice, Stacker examined PMQ Pizza Magazine's 2025 Pizza Power report to round up the 30 biggest pizza chains in the country based on annual sales in 2023. Some are classic fast-food franchises, customizable and deliverable to our doorsteps in less than 60 minutes; others are brick-and-mortar family joints.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

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Gallery Credit: Charlotte Barnett

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