Max and Issy's Pizzeria To Close After 2 Decades in Lincoln Park

"I would imagine most of these stories are kind of sad in a way when a place is closing. But honestly, it's rare in this business when you get to go out on your own terms. And so this is a pretty good thing for us."

"It's hard running one place, let alone two. It's just myself and my business partner, and honestly we're just going to concentrate on Kaiser. It's a different animal. It's a big space, and it takes a lot of work."

"Latchford and his business partner, Patrick Berger, bought the building 19 years ago, operating it for 14 years as Paddy Long's Beer & Bacon Pub before pivoting during the pandemic. In 2021, the bar reopened as Max and Issy's, a New York-style pizzeria named after their children and designed to lean into delivery and takeout."

Max and Issy's Pizzeria, located at 1028 W. Diversey Parkway, will close on March 28 after operating for nearly two decades. Co-owner Chris Latchford, who owns the building, received an unsolicited offer to purchase the property and decided the timing was right to move forward. The space previously operated as Paddy Long's Beer & Bacon Pub for 14 years before transitioning to a New York-style pizzeria in 2021 during the pandemic. The closure allows Latchford and business partner Patrick Berger to concentrate on Kaiser Tiger, their West Loop beer hall, which requires more operational attention. Most pizzeria employees will transfer to Kaiser Tiger following the closure.

Read at Block Club Chicago