Ono’s Pizza was a Lake Michigan landmark for more than half a century. Now the lakefront pizzeria is up for sale in Gary, Indiana, where it remains beloved even after closing for good in 2016.

Also known as Ono’s and Jo’s, the restaurant’s location is adjacent to Lake Michigan Beach and Indiana Dunes State Park. Situated on the southern shores of Lake Michigan and surrounded by National Lake Shore Park just 35 minutes from Chicago, it has been completely renovated.

The pizza shop and property are listed with Ayers Realty. Click here to learn more.

this photo shows the Ono's dining room, including several tables, with a rustic wood-paneled interior

The dining room

Josie Rizzo opened Ono’s and Jo’s as the Beach Box in the 1950s. She named it in part after her brother, Onofrio. Salvatore “Sam” Rizzo continued operating it until he passed away in 2016, according to the Times of Northwest Indiana.

“The old-school pizzeria has lived on in memory,” the Times reports. “The landmark eatery is depicted in paintings, photos and prints at the nearby Miller School Shops in downtown Miller.”

this photo shows the interior of the summer cottage with windows and blinds, a large table with chairs and a blue sofa

The summer cottage

The property consists of:

  • A completely renovated pizza and concession shop with a three-way liquor license and all permits. The pizza shop has an automatic roll-up, walk-up window for serving beachgoers.
  • A 250-square-foot summer cottage furnished with TV, bar and refrigerator that can host private parties. It provides seating for 12.
  • A 1,144-square-foot dining room with seating for 25 and a public bathroom, bar, refrigerators and space for live music.
  • A large lot with outdoor seating and space for live music as well as for a cold beer or cocktail after a long day at the beach.
  • A red barn that can be used for storage as well as a steel garage for a car or the storage of equipment.
  • The property includes five buildings in all, making it a unique venue.

Paulette Cialdella, an electrician who hails from a family of pizza-makers, purchased and restored the restaurant building and is putting it up for sale. “It was a labor of love for me,” she told the Times. “I just wanted to see this iconic place come back to life.”

this photo shows a spacious yard outside the restaurant with tables and umbrellas

The outdoor dining space

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