Lizzano Focacceria, a sandwich shop specializing in Italian-inspired sandwiches served on house-made focaccia bread, soft-opened in Evanston on Aug. 7. The eatery, at 1607 Chicago Ave., will host a grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 15, with free paninis available for the first 100 customers.
Lizzano Focacceria soft-opened in Evanston on Aug. 7, and plans to host a grand opening event with free paninis on Saturday. Credit: Margo Milanowski
Starting at 10 a.m., the first 100 customers to visit the store will receive a free half panini of their choice, said location manager Jorge Moreira. There will be vegetarian, pork and beef options.
“While the menu includes our full range of paninis, this will be the first of our stores to offer size-based combo options, a choice tailored specifically to our Evanston customers,” Moreira said.
TThe concept behind Lizzano’s, Moreira told the RoundTable, includes distinct features at each location. The North Wells Street location in Chicago, for example, offers alcoholic beverages.
Inside Lizzano, tiered seats with small tray tables are available for customers. Credit: Margo Milanowski
The Evanston location features “tiered seating reminiscent of school or university bleachers into the space’s design,” Moreira said.
Evanston teen Matthew Maus stopped by Lizzano’s on Wednesday, having stumbled upon the sandwich shop on his way to his grandpa’s apartment. He ordered the capri sandwich, which included ham, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto and finishing salt on focaccia. He also ordered a tiramisu from Lizzano’s cooler section.
“It’s like my favorite dessert,” Maus said.
Lizzano’s menu includes both savory and sweet sandwich creations. Credit: Margo Milanowski
Lizzano’s owner, Gabriel Fleury, also owns Deep Purpl, the acai bowl and smoothie shop with a location just down the block at 630 Davis St.
Besides the Evanston location of Deep Purpl, Fleury also owns nine locations of Deep Purpl in the Chicago area.
Fleury also owns Lizzano Focacceria at 200 N. Michigan Ave. in downtown Chicago and Lizzano Focacceria & Spritzeria at 636 N. Wells St. in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.
Brazilian-based holding company Grupo Trigo also officially acquired a 70% stake of Fleury’s two eatery chains, Lizzano and Deep Purpl, according to a Feb. 5 LinkedIn post from Fleury.
Grupo Trigo did not disclose the amount it invested. Although the acquisition had been in the works for some time, Fleury announced it on Feb. 5. Fleury announced it on Feb. 5.
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