Lou Malnati’s eyeing Brookfield for second Milwaukee-area location

When Northbrook, Illinois-based Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria opens its first Wisconsin location later this fall, the Fox Point carryout store will be part of what the company calls a “community of stores” planned for the Milwaukee area.

And next on the agenda for the popular Chicago-style deep dish pizza chain is a full-service restaurant in Brookfield, said owner Marc Malnati, who is the son of founder Lou.

In a recent interview with BizTimes Milwaukee, Malnati said the company plans to open “two to three restaurants and about four or five carryout and delivery stores” (like the one in Fox Point) across the area over the next three to five years.

“We’ve identified some distinct areas where we want to be based on demographics and strong population centers,” Malnati said. “Fox Point was the first opportunity.”

A contract deal has not yet been secured for a Brookfield site, but the company will move in to that area and others as opportunities arise, he said.

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria and its 45 partners operate 56 locations in the Chicago area and three in Arizona.

For each full-service Lou Malnati’s restaurant, the company typically opens two to three carryout and delivery stores in surrounding, less populated neighborhoods, said Malnati, describing the tactic as a “hub and spoke approach.”

Restaurants are placed in areas with the highest population density, such as Brookfield.

“So when people want to go out with family or meet friends at a place, (a Lou Malnati’s restaurant) is there, and when they just want to turn on the TV and snuggle up at home there’s probably a location that’s even closer,” he said.

Lou Malnati’s said it’s planning to hire 60 local employees for its newest location, which is slated for an early-December opening at 8799 N. Port Washington Road at the Riverpoint Village Shopping Center.

The company later this week will host three daylong hiring events on Oct. 18, Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 at its hiring and training facility at 8793 N. Port Washington Road. Open positions include cashiers, dishwashers, delivery drivers, kitchen crew, kitchen supervisor and phone staff.