Lou Malnati’s sets grand opening date in Surprise

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, a Chicago-based pizza restaurant known for its deep-dish pizza, announced that it is opening a new full-service restaurant in Surprise on Friday, Oct. 25.

To celebrate its new location at 13382 N. Prasada Parkway, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Surprise is hosting a grand opening event that is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Surprise Mayor Skip Hall at 2 p.m.

The event will include activities such as an immersive and interactive 360-degree photobooth, Plinko, paint by numbers, and live music performed by Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center. The first 100 tables to be seated at the grand opening will receive a free swag bag with exclusive Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria “Team Deep Dish” merchandise. Guest attendees will also have a chance to win free pizza for a year, along with other exclusive offers.

Launched in Chicago in 1971, Lou Malnati’s is considered the oldest family name in authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Today, the family-owned restaurant has more than 80 locations throughout the U.S., including Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Arizona.

Dedicated to bringing the taste of Chicago to the Valley, every Lou Malnati’s pizza is handmade from scratch with the same top-quality ingredients including: hand-selected California vine-ripened tomatoes grown exclusively for Lou Malnati’s, fresh Wisconsin mozzarella cheese supplied from the same dairy farm for more than 50 years, a proprietary sausage blend, and its family’s secret flaky buttery crust recipe that has been passed down for generations.

The restaurant also has a “Magic Spigot” that is designed to mimic Lake Michigan’s water from the Windy City that makes the dough legendary, bringing the taste of Chicago straight to Surprise ensuring consistent quality, taste, and texture in every pizza.

“We’re excited to continue our tradition of serving legendary deep dish pizza with top-notch quality and hospitality while bringing our family’s legacy to Surprise,“ said owner Marc Malnati of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. “To celebrate the grand opening, we’re inviting Surprise residents to dine in at our new location for the real deep dish dining experience. We look forward to serving them with our famous food, family and friendly service. We want to welcome them to ‘Team Deep Dish’ and provide them with exclusive offers and opportunities. We believe that pizza brings joy and we can’t wait to share that with the Surprise community.”

The full menu will be available during the grand opening event, offering guests an opportunity to experience the restaurant’s legendary deep dish pizza with a full-service dining experience. Lou Malnati’s menu is highlighted by its authentic deep dish pizza famous for its buttery, flaky, golden crust; it also offers tasty thin crust, gluten-free crust, and “crustless” pizza options as well.

Other popular signature dishes include BuffaLou wings, Malnati salad, penne ala Malnati and tiramisu.

Each menu item, from the pizza to the salad dressing and wing sauce, is chef-crafted and handmade from scratch daily.

The 6,650-square-foot Surprise location will be a full-service restaurant and bar with a private dining room and a dog-friendly patio. The restaurant will also feature one-of-a-kind design elements that celebrate the unique spirit of the Surprise community with a Windy City twist, such as a “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”-inspired mural hand-painted by a local Surprise artist and a 3D art installation paying homage to the West Valley’s vibrant spring training culture.

The restaurant will offer dine-in to start, with plans to launch carryout, delivery, curbside pick-up, and catering services later this year.

As part of the grand opening event, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Surprise will be presenting Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center in Goodyear a donation to help support the local nonprofit organization’s music programs.

“We are passionate about giving back to the local communities we serve and are honored to be partners with Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center in Goodyear,” said Stephanie Morgan, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria general manager and longtime Surprise resident. “As a part of our partnership, 100% of the proceeds from our charity night will be donated to Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center. We are proud to support local organizations in a variety of ways to help create a better community for everyone.”

Visit loumalnatis.com/Surprise-AZ.