Lou Malnati’s, the iconic Chicago-based pizzeria known for its deep-dish pizza, will close its four locations in the Indianapolis area next month. The closures, set for March 3, mark the end of a five-year presence in the region, with the company citing poor sales and a lack of sufficient population density as key factors contributing to the decision.
Mindy Kaplan, a spokesperson for Lou Malnati’s, explained that the Indianapolis stores have been struggling to generate profits. “They are just not performing well, and they are not profitable,” Kaplan said.
The pizzeria, which has been family-operated for 54 years, initially expanded into Central Indiana with five locations. The first was a carryout and delivery store in Carmel, opened in October 2020, followed by another on West 86th Street in March 2021. In November 2021, Lou Malnati’s opened its only dine-in location in Broad Ripple. The Avon and Greenwood locations were added as carryout-only stores in 2022. However, the company closed the 86th Street carryout location last year due to underperformance.
Kaplan also revealed that plans to open a second dine-in restaurant in Fishers were scrapped in 2023, as the company reevaluated the viability of the market in light of ongoing struggles at other locations.
Of the remaining locations, Kaplan noted that the Carmel store was the most successful, turning a profit. However, due to the high costs associated with maintaining the original recipe and shipping the products, the company determined it was not financially sustainable to keep a single location open in the area.
Lou Malnati’s, which currently employs around 10 store managers and 50 part-time staff members in Central Indiana, will assist in relocating many of its managers to other locations, as most were brought in to support the brand’s regional expansion.
The company’s two locations in Northwest Indiana, Schererville and Crown Point, will remain open as part of the Chicagoland area. Additionally, Kaplan confirmed that Lou Malnati’s is looking to expand further, targeting areas with higher population density for future locations.
The company also plans to close two of its locations in the Phoenix area, as reported by the Arizona Republic.
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