Business & Tech
Jimbo's Pizza Wins in Patch Business of the Year Poll
Seven nominees were vying for the inaugural honor, all of whom were suggested by members of the community.
After moving to Lemont from the south side of Chicago more than a decade ago, Jim Mandra found himself missing the pizza pies he grew up with.
“I just started making my own pizza out of my house,” Mandra said. “Then one thing led to another and I kind of got into the business.”
These days, he is owner and operator of at 12267 Walker Road, which recently won the . Seven nominees were vying for the inaugural honor, all of whom were suggested by members of the community.
Jimbo's Pizza nabbed 6,897 votes.
Mandra said he is thrilled with the honor.
“When I heard I was in the running I was happy that someone nominated us,” he said. “That was really cool to hear. We were hoping that we would win.”
Mandra opened Jimbo’s Pizza in 1998. Before coming to Lemont, he gained experience working at several Chicago pizzerias.
What sets his restaurant apart from other pizza places in town?
“We serve a quality product with great personal customer service,” Mandra said. “It’s not a chain. It’s my own brand and my own recipe. We’re like the corner pizzeria place.”
The business is also home to the Lemontster—the largest pizza in the village—which Mandra refers to as “19 inches of pizza delight.”
“A lot of people have 18-inch pizzas so I figured I’d do a 19-inch,” he said.
When Mandra first went into the business, his largest pizza was a 16-inch.
“I had a lot of costumers telling me, ‘You’ve got to make a bigger pizza.’ People are looking to feed their families so a lot of them go with the Lemontster. It’s a big seller,” he said.
Philanthropy is one reason Jimbo’s Pizza landed the Patch Business of the Year award.
Besides offering special rates for Lemont schools and granting requests for fundraising gift certificates, Mandra has started a program called Pizza Gift, where he gives a free pizza dinner to someone in need.
“It’s just a little something to give back and maybe brighten someone’s day who’s not having that great of a time,” Mandra said.
To nominate someone for Pizza Gift, e-mail pizzagift2011@hotmail.com.
Mandra said he likes helping out the community.
“I think that’s important,” he said. “And it’s rewarding for me to be able to do that. I’m not looking for any type of pat on the back. I just like to do it.”
Mandra enjoys both living and running a business in Lemont.
“It’s a small community and the people are friendly,” he said.
For more information about Jimbo’s Pizza, visit www.jimbospizza.com.
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