Pizza Mia! Chain's Frankfort Location Goes Beyond the Slice

When Bob Chavez was a boy of 6 or 7, his uncle owned a pizzeria in Chicago. Even today, Bob fondly remembers grating cheese and preparing sauces at the restaurant on Saturdays and Sundays. In his 30s, he thought it might be time to open a pizzeria of his own; however, he and his wife had young children, and the timing just didn't seem right.

Now, with children off and away, his childhood love and adult dream are coming to fruition with the Pizza Mia! franchise in Frankfort.

Located on Harlem Avenue just north of Lincoln-Way North High School, Chavez .

"The community has been great. So warm and friendly," Chavez said. "We love being so close to the high school not only because of the business but also because 70 percent or more of our staff are high school students. They keep me young!"

In fact, Pizza Mia is bustling with pick-up and carry-out orders for the after-school crowd. What teenager doesn't like a slice as big as your head after a long day of classes?

"Some students pick-up The Chub -- one of our specialties -- after school and then head back to North to eat it before a practice. How they do it, I don't know," Chavez said, chuckling.

Frankfort's Pizza Mia! has been concentrating on the pick-up aspect of its business since opening. On May 2, it will be adding delivery service to its repertoire. In addition, the eatery offers a catering menu and is already taking orders for graduation parties.

"Graduation season is a busy one for people in our business," Chavez said. "I encourage customers to get their order in soon if they have not done so already. It is one less thing for them to worry about and since all of our chicken is fresh, never frozen, we can make sure we have everything ordered on our end."

A quick review of Pizza Mia's menu, and you will quickly see they are more than pizza makers. Chavez recommends three items every customer must try:

The "Danwich": A giant, lightly breaded chicken breast topped with hot-wing sauce, baked with mozzarella cheese and served on garlic bread.

Broasted Chicken: Crispy, golden, fresh chicken sold by piece or in bulk.

The "Chub": For those who simply have to have a pizza-like item, this is the "beef sandwich inside a pizza." Stuffed pizza with talian beef, homemade giardiniera, topped with a garlic butter crust and served with au jus.

Pizza  Mia! also has locations in Homer Glen and New Lenox. 

Where: 19860 S. Harlem Ave.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 3-11 p.m. Saturday; 3-10 p.m. Sunday.
More info: Call 815.806.8300 or go to the website.