OPEN AGAIN: Shorewood Pizza For U New Owner: 'I Had To Get It'

SHOREWOOD, IL — In August, the spirits of people around Shorewood and Plainfield were dampened when Shorewood's Pizza For U, a community fixture for 30 years, abruptly closed for good. The owner cited health problems as his reason for shutting the restaurant down.

Then, Chirag "CP" Patel entered the picture.

A native of England, whose family moved to the United States when he was a teenager, Patel said he graduated from college in South Carolina. He has lived in Plainfield the past four years after previously living in Aurora. This fall, he acquired the Shorewood Pizza For U and reopened the business two weeks ago.

"It's a staple in the community," Patel said. "Once I found out about it being closed, I had to get it. It was a no-brainer. I always wanted a food place, and this just seemed like perfect."

Patel said he has been back open since Nov. 13. "I still get calls five times every day, just asking if you're open?" Patel remarked. "We're open, and please come in, because people just don't know we're open. We have all the same recipes and everything is all the same."

Next week, Patel will have a grand opening ribbon-cutting event at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, with the Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce. Patel wants everyone to know they are welcome to attend the grand opening festivities. He plans to have free food available.

"Free pizza samples and samples of beef pockets," Patel told Joliet Patch's editor during Wednesday's interview.

Patel joked that Pizza For U could be called Pockets For U, because so many of their dedicated and returning customers order the beef pocket for their main meal.

When he called Shorewood several weeks ago about obtaining a business license, to bring back Pizza For U, the first question village officials asked him over the phone was, "Are you going to be keeping the beef rolls on the menu?" he recalled.

"The beef pockets, I'm probably doing 50 percent of sales."

The Shorewood Pizza For U is back to its traditional hours and days of operation.

It's closed on Tuesdays and open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Besides takeout, Shorewood Pizza For U offers delivery within a roughly 5-mile area. The main delivery area is Shorewood, south Plainfield and parts of Joliet's far west side.

In late September, Pizza For U announced on Facebook that its Shorewood location was being permanently closed because the owner had health issues.

"They closed it down. It was closed for a month, and I bought it, cleaned it," Patel said. "This has been here 30 years. I thought it could take longer to bounce back, but it's so heartwarming, around 3:30 to 4 p.m., the orders start pouring in, and they keep coming. It's the same menu, it's not changed."

Patel said he will also be giving customers one free 6-inch-long mini beef pocket on their birthday. All he asks is they make a purchase of something, even a can of pop.

"Everyone should feel a little special on their birthday," Patel exclaimed.

He also wants everyone to know the Shorewood Pizza For U is selling $3 slices of pizza during the lunch hour, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Pizza slices are available in cheese, pepperoni and also sausage.

One of his favorite pizza pies to make is a meat lover's pizza with onions and jalapeños. "A pizza without bacon just does not feel great," Patel said.

There is also a Mexican taco pizza at Pizza For U that is rising in popularity.

"It's made with re-fried beans as a sauce and topped with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and crushed corn chips," he said. "I have sold quite a few of them."

Anyone who places an online order receives a standard 10 percent discount on their bill, Patel stressed.

"I really feel welcome by the village, also the fire department," Patel said. "My wife loves the beef rolls, and she hates that we don't deliver to her."

Patel said he and his wife live in Plainfield.

As it stands, there are Pizza For U locations in Joliet on Larkin Avenue, along Route 6 in Channahon, the one in Shorewood and one in Manhattan that also serves customers in Elwood.

And although the menu does not list the location, there is also a Pizza For U location at 940 South Water Street in Wilmington.

Could the day come when an additional for Pizza For U location comes to Plainfield?

"I would love to have one in Plainfield," Patel smiled.