Meet Alex DeSalvo, DeSalvo's Pizza
Meet Alex DeSalvo, owner of DeSalvo's Pizza. Located in the Central Street business district, this family-owned and operated pizza shop is passionate about building community. They pride themselves on not only serving great food, but offering a warm and inviting space. They believe pizza is for everyone -- so stop by and grab some pizza by-the-slice, including gluten and vegan options, or check out their daily selection of items only available in house
KB: Can you share some of the history of DeSalvo's?
AD: DeSalvo’s Pizza came about through many years of John, Stacia and I dreaming together about a potential partnership. Stacia and I grew up working in the restaurant and service industry - In fact, we met working at a pizza shop in Carbondale, Colorado16 years ago. John and I met when he hired me to create and cook for Boltwood, here in Evanston. With years of food service under our belts, the idea of running a pizza shop, one that served the food, environment, and service we believe our community deserves, was a dream then, one we thought we’d never realize. When we started our family, we both pivoted away from direct food service. Then, during the pandemic, when Symphony Cafe closed and I lost my job, we started to really talk seriously about how to make our dreams a reality . After much discussion Stacia and I decided to head back into the restaurant industry, with our friend and partner John Kim, and try our hand at building something new and special.
KB: How does the Central Street district support your business?
AD: Central Street is the perfect community for a shop like De Salvo’s. The Central Street district’s events throughout the seasons help keep us connected to other businesses and community members. The neighborhood has embraced us in ways we couldn’t have imagined. We absolutely love being a part of such a thriving community.
KB: What can folks expect if they come to DeSalvo's?
AD: A friendly and inviting space. The best food we can make, almost all from scratch, with the highest quality ingredients we can source.
KB: How do you set yourself apart from other restaurants?
AD: We make everything we can from scratch - dough, Italian sausage, cookies, bread (fresh-baked daily), ect. We also do our absolute best to handle everything with care and attention to detail. We want people to be able to notice the difference right away
KB: Any specials or services you’d like people to be aware of?
AD: We obviously have great pizzas, salads and sandwiches, but we also offer some really special seasonal vegetable dishes, gluten and dairy free Oatly soft-serve, draft beer and wines. We’re more than just a local pizza joint. We have strong culinary and hospitality backgrounds and our hope is that all of that experience will shine through in our space and product.
KB: What is your favorite thing about owning a business in Evanston?
AD: We love being a part of such a thriving community and getting the chance to be a part of so many community members' lives. Such a joy. We’re very grateful to be where we are doing what we do.
