Detroit-style pizza chain makes inroads in Chicago: 'It's deep dish without the nap'

An example of Jet's Detroit-style pizza, with its thick and chewy crust. Photo credit Jet's Pizza promotional image

By Rob Hart

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A local entrepreneur is celebrating 10 years of bringing Detroit-style pizza to Chicago.

David Falato brought the Jet's Pizza chain to Chicago in 2012. It serves Detroit style pizza, a rectangular pie with a thick, chewy and crispy crust.

Falato told the WBBM Noon Business Hour that Detroit-style pizza is between thin crust, tavern style pizza and deep dish.

"It's deep dish without the nap," he said.

Chicago is a city that is passionate — and territorial — about its pizza. Falato, whose wife is from Michigan, said he counted on business from Michiganders looking for a taste of home when they opened the first Jet's franchise in Lakeview 10 years ago.

"They have over 200 stores in the state of Michigan. Once we had it the first time we said, ‘Wow, this is incredible.' It was a really good product, and we were really impressed with the company, so I thought from the start that this would be a home run," Falato said.

The 21st Chicagoland location had a soft opening in the Hyde Park neighborhood several months ago.

That location is one of five Jet’s franchises to open in Chicago in the first half of 2022.