The pizzeria has been making pizza according to a secret recipe for five generations but will close its doors for good by the end of the month
A beloved Chicago pizzeria is saying farewell after more than five decades of serving up its signature deep-dish pies.
My Pi, a classic staple of the Windy City’s pizza scene since 1971, has confirmed it will close its doors at the end of June.
“After more than five decades of making our signature pizzas, the time has come to say goodbye,” owner Richard Aronson shared in a heartfelt social media post announcing the news. “From our first location on Sheridan Road in 1971 to our Bucktown home since 2000, My Pi has been a labor of love.”
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At its peak, the popular chain boasted 25 locations across nine states.
Aronson thanked loyal customers for making My Pi part of their celebrations, family dinners, and late-night cravings, urging them to stop by for one last bite.
“Our last day of service will be in late June, and we’ll continue accepting nationwide shipping orders through June 22. Come by for one last bite and help us say goodbye the best way we know how — over great pizza,” he wrote.
My Pi’s website says its famous Chicago deep-dish dough is crafted fresh daily, following a five-generation baking tradition.
The dough, known for its three perfect rises, forms a sturdy crust to hold all that gooey cheese and tomato sauce — a secret recipe passed down since the 1950s.
While nationwide orders will be accepted until June 22, the Chicago Tribune reported that the restaurant’s final day of service will be June 29.
Financial trouble continues to hit restaurants and retailers across the country, with many more facing impending closures.
The worrying trend has become so widespread that some have dubbed it the “retail apocalypse.”
Another pizza chain also recently announced it will be closing down four of its locations after filing for bankruptcy for the third time in seven years.
Bertucci’s, which serves up pizzas and other Italian food, recently won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Boston Pizza Festival but has been forced to shut down four of its Massachusetts restaurants following declining consumer demand.
“For Bertucci’s longstanding and loyal patrons, the Bertucci’s you know and love is here to stay as well, just with a few less locations for now,” the company said.
Coresight Research also reported that 15,000 stores are expected to close this year, nearly double the 7,325 locations that closed in 2024.
Last year’s figures had already eclipsed the figures during the tumultuous trading period in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number is slightly offset by the projection that retailers will open 5,800 stores, which is only slightly less than the 5,970 stores opened in 2024.
