Home Run Inn
In 1923, a baseball came flying through the front window of Mary and Vincent Grittani’s newly purchased tavern. They decided to name their small bar the Home Run Inn.
Today, the Home Run Inn has seven locations in Illinois and is famous for its hand-tossed pizza. Considered among the best in Chicago, the pizza’s recipe has not changed since its inception in the 1940s. Back then, it was given away for free to the tavern’s customers, but as it became more and more popular, the Grittani family began selling the slices. They soon found themselves selling more pizza than drinks! By the 50s, the Home Run Inn was selling frozen pizzas to nearby grocery stores and faraway customers.
Now, the old neighborhood tavern sells frozen pizzas in over 20 states and is the #1 selling frozen pizza in Chicago. (I remember selling the small personal frozen pizzas as part of a fundraiser for my grade school.) It also has won the title of #1 pizza at the Taste of Chicago six years in a row. While the Home Run Inn introduced a deep-dish style a few years ago, it is still mainly known for its thin crust. The restaurant also offers sandwiches, salads, pastas, and soups.
Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Stanley Sparks
Home Run Inn ($$): 4254 W 31st St; 773-247-9696
Mon - Thurs: 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri: 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sat: 12 noon - 11:30 p.m.
Sun: 12 noon - 10:00 p.m.
Free parking lot
Public trans: Bus # 53, 53A
http://www.homeruninn.com/
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August 22nd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
I don’t supposed they’d be willing to Fed-ex a frozen pizza to California>
January 14th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
To “I don’t supposed”… Yes they do. I was born and raised in Chicago and on Chicago Style pizza. And Home Run Inn is without question, one of the very best. Taste and quality is better if enjoyed in one of their restaraunts, but the frozen is still very good too, much better than anything they have here in Colorado.
Go to.. http://www.homeruninntogo.com/, and enjoy yourself. I have many times already.
June 15th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Hey, nice photo. As a matter of fact, to commenter #1, the photo is from a Home Run Inn frozen pizza, bought here in Charlottesville, Virginia, some 800+ miles from my hometown of Chicago. And it was frickin’ delicious.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Thanks for sharing the photo Stanley. Good to know that Chicago pizza can be enjoyed even hundreds of miles away.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:00 am
[...] Home Run Inn. Being announced #1 pizza at the Taste of Chicago six times in a row is mighty [...]
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I love pizza and it doesn’t get any better then Home Run Inn. I am proud to say that I am from Chicago which is where Home Run Inn and it’s history began.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Great news….. The frozen Home Run Inn Pizza is now available in Colorado, at your local King Soopers and I have also heard some Safeway’s.
When in Chicago, don’t forget to also try Falco’s Pizza (South on Route 83 just off I-55). Another South Side Pizza to die for.
P.S. Uno’s, Duo’s and Geno East are not real Chicago Pizza’s, way too thick and bready, more of a North siders taste.
July 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
@Kenetra I agree, I’m proud to live in a city with such a great culinary history.
@Bob, thanks for keeping us updated on Home Run’s growth. I’m sure the folks in Colorado appreciate it!