Community members will soon have a new spot to grab a slice when Pizzeria DeVille opens a new Evanston location later this month. The restaurant will replace the Giordano’s on Chicago Avenue, which closed last year.
J.R. Escobar, the restaurant’s owner, is excited to bring its focus on quality ingredients and building community to the city.
Escobar has been in the hospitality industry for nearly his entire life. He started washing dishes at 14 and hasn’t left the restaurant world since. When the owner of the original Pizzeria DeVille decided to close its Libertyville location, Escobar said he saw an opportunity.
“Me and (my daughter) used to go there frequently, and we always thought that the pizza was good,” Escobar said. “So we just took that leap and took over. We didn’t get to buy the business. What we did was we bought the scraps of the business, and we relaunched it.”
That relaunch centered on refining the original business model. Together with Zach Jones, the restaurant’s director of culinary arts, Escobar reworked recipes, emphasizing quality ingredients.
Pizzeria DeVille uses non-bromated, unbleached flour imported from Italy, with no additives or preservatives. Escobar lets his dough ferment for three days, allowing it to develop deeper flavor and texture.
“That’s why sourdough is so respected in the bread industry,” Escobar said. “You give it that time, and you really get a depth of flavor.”
This attention to detail extends to topping selection. The restaurant’s sausage is ground in-house from fresh cuts of meat. Escobar’s favorite pizza is the popular Pepperoni Due, which features jumbo pepperoni, house-made tomato sauce and a drizzle of hot honey.
The restaurant will also offer Detroit-style pizza, which Director of Guest Services Chris Rimer loves.
“I had (Jones’ pizza) the other day. It’s gonna be so good,” Rimer said. “So good.”
While he hopes the food will speak for itself, Escobar is also in the business of community-building.
The Evanston location can seat over 100 guests inside, with additional patio seating outside. The restaurant will feature large tables, designed for groups of up to 15 to gather around a shared meal.
This community-building ethos carries over into his hiring and design choices, Escobar added. He said he’s currently hiring members of the Evanston community and wants to showcase artwork from local artists in the restaurant, with pieces available for purchase. Escobar hopes to introduce trivia, karaoke and other themed nights to draw patrons to the pizzeria, too.
“We want to bring some theme nights and really give the downtown Evanston area something to do on a nightly basis, everything from the students to the families, and bring this community together,” he said.
Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) said in an emailed statement to The Daily that Pizzeria DeVille is just one establishment coming to Evanston as the city looks to revive its downtown area.
“Our recently approved comprehensive plan emphasizes the importance of leaning into Evanston as (a) destination for arts, entertainment, and culture so we can drive customers to local businesses, including pizzerias,” Nieuwsma wrote.
If students respond well to the restaurant, Escobar said he would be willing to keep Pizzeria DeVille open until 1 or 2 a.m. on weekends. With online ordering, delivery and pickup options, he hopes to serve everyone.
For Escobar, the most rewarding moments in the restaurant industry are when the dining room is full.
“I love Friday nights in the restaurant when things are really pumping,” he said. “And I’m just really excited to kind of see that happen here.”
Email: [email protected]
Related Stories:
— Forno gets a pizza the action: New restaurant to replace Norris’ MOD Pizza
— Best Pizza: Union Squared proves Detroit-style wins in Illinois
