Chicago’s culinary identity has long been tied to towering deep-dish pies, but a quieter, crispier icon has been holding court in local taverns for generations. Now, the family behind that tradition is putting it on the national calendar, giving pizza fans everywhere a formal reason to trade slices for squares this week.
Home Run Inn invites pizza lovers everywhere to celebrate National Tavern-Style Pizza Day on October 22
CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, October 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — While tourists may line up for deep-dish, Chicago natives have long known that the city's true pizza soul lies in a different, crispier creation. On October 22, Home Run Inn Pizza is calling on pizza enthusiasts nationwide to lift a square in celebration of National Tavern-Style Pizza Day, an observance the iconic Chicago brand established to honor the city's beloved thin-crust tradition.
Home Run Inn Pizza's story reaches back to 1923, placing it at the heart of Chicago's pizza heritage for over a hundred years. What started as a modest neighborhood tavern has evolved into a fourth-generation, family-owned pizza enterprise, celebrated for its distinctive crispy crust. The brand has served generations through its six Chicago-area restaurants and a line of frozen pizzas stocked in grocery stores across the country.
Tavern-style pizza is a Chicago original, defined by its thin, crispy crust, tangy sauce and hearty toppings, all sliced into small, shareable squares rather than the conventional wedge. This tradition took root in the 1940s when the Home Run Inn Pizza family first crafted the pizza as a bar snack meant to accompany cold beverages. The compact, bite-sized pieces were designed so patrons could enjoy a slice in one hand while holding a drink in the other. By the 1950s, Home Run Inn Pizza had begun par-baking and freezing these same pizzas for customers and nearby grocers, establishing the groundwork for a frozen pizza operation that now spans the nation.
“Tavern-style pizza is having a real moment right now,” said Dan Costello, CEO of Home Run Inn. “It's exciting to see the rest of the country discovering something Chicagoans have loved for generations.”
The buzz around tavern-style pizza is not just local. The rising interest coincides with a broader national shift toward thinner crusts. Data from 2025 research conducted by the American Bakers Association indicates that 49% of consumers prefer thin-crust pizza, signaling a robust appetite for Chicago's crispy, square-cut favorite.
To mark the inaugural National Tavern-Style Pizza Day, Home Run Inn Pizza taverns in Chicago are rolling out special offers from October 22 through October 25. These promotions include 5x loyalty points, exclusive discounts and merchandise, plus a special four-stop Home Run Inn food truck tour. Full details are set to be shared on Home Run Inn’s Facebook page and other social media channels.
About Home Run Inn Pizza
Established in 1923 as a small tavern on Chicago’s South Side, Home Run Inn is a family-owned pizza company recognized for its signature tavern-style pizza and dedication to quality ingredients. Today, Home Run Inn runs six pizzerias throughout Chicagoland and distributes its frozen pizzas in grocery stores nationwide. The company’s frozen pizza venture began in the late 1950s, when the family started par-baking and freezing its pizzas for local stores, bringing the same recipes and traditions from its restaurants to consumers at home. For more information about Home Run Inn, its restaurants and frozen pizzas, visit www.HomeRunInnPizza.com.
Jeff Dillow
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Why it matters: By codifying tavern-style pizza into the national holiday calendar, Home Run Inn is leveraging its century-old legacy to tap into a growing consumer shift toward thin-crust pies. The move not only elevates a regional staple onto a national stage but also gives the brand a fresh promotional hook as it competes in the crowded frozen pizza aisle.
