Nancy’s, Chicago’s Stuffed Pizza Pioneer, Forges Into the Future in the West Loop | Eater Chicago

"At its new West Loop flagship, I see Nancy’s Pizza aiming to debunk the idea that stuffed pizza is only for tourists: the West Loop location just opened as a 98-seat space with a full bar and a take-out window, but it hasn't yet received its liquor license so it's BYO for now; takeout and delivery are also available. Steeped in Chicago pizza history—stuffed pizza was created by Rocco Palese in 1971 and he opened the first Nancy’s in 1973 in Hardwood Heights—this location blends tradition with modern touches from executive chef Kayla Howey, a Culinary Institute of America graduate who worked at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon and has a large Instagram following; she calls stuffed pizza a “communal, celebratory food” and has added items like spinach-artichoke dip, caramelized Brussels sprouts, a blueberry pecan salad, and meatball sliders. The restaurant remains family-run: Dave Howey (who took over Nancy’s in 1990) and his children David and Kayla are involved, David helped with branding and the restaurant design that mixes vintage family photos with a modern feel, and the brand has been testing changes and expanding into markets like Atlanta and Raleigh." - Ashok Selvam