Footnote on the origin of Pizzeria Uno
If you followed the links to Uno's and Rudy Malnati, you have probably experienced a bit of "cognitive dissonance" about the history of the restaurant. The Uno web site claims that the place was started by Ike Sewell, while the Pizano (Rudy Malnati Jr's.) web site claims that it was started by Rudy Malnati Sr. Both web sites fail even to mention Ric Riccardo, who died in 1954 at the age of 51. Riccardo, a sort of modern day Da Vinci, was born in Italy, and immigrated to the US in the 1930's where he used his artistic talents painting murals for the WPA. Later he started a well known Chicago bar and restaurant called Riccardo's. He was the only one of the original founders who had actually owned a restaurant, and being a native of Italy, certainly knew what pizza was. Ike Sewell was a liquor salesman who at the time was calling on Riccardo's restaurant, and Malnati reportedly worked there as a bartender/manager.
To quote Rick Kogan of The Chicago Tribune:
"Although a shrewd businessman--Texas-born Ike Sewell--is often hailed as the inventor of this dish, the credit should go to a couple of Italians. One was Ric Riccardo Sr., who ran a successful restaurant on Rush Street. He and Sewell had wanted to open a Mexican restaurant together but when that didn't work out--Riccardo got sick eating some sample meals--they got together with another restaurant guy named Rudy Malnati and it was Riccardo and Malnati who created what millions have since enjoyed... "
Suffice it to say that all three of these gentlemen were actually involved in starting the business, although the role each played is subject to considerable dispute. The origin and early history of Uno's may have been a bit like the history of medieval England, with the houses of Sewell and Malnati battling for the crown. Sewell's wife Florence, who was from a well-to-do family and recently died a multimillionaire at the age of 95, may have played a big role in founding the restaurant. Rudy Malnati also brought his two sons Lou and Rudy Jr. into the business in the early days.
What is clear is that Lou Malnati left in 1970 and started Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. This venture was very successful, and now has twenty outlets in the greater Chicago area. Then, it seems that even the Malnati family had its rift. Around 1975, Rudy Jr. started a competing restaurant with the somewhat dubious name of "Rudy Malnati's Mexican Fiesta and Pizzeria" in the western suburb of Oak Park. Unfortunately suburbia was not yet ready for such a revolutionary concept! (Since I lived only a mile away at the time, I hated to see it go.) Later he was more successful with a downtown restaurant called Pizano's, which is now getting better reviews than either Lou Malnati's or Uno's.