MIKE'S PIZZA

Mike Cosentino was born in Calabria, Italy in 1904 and migrated to America in 1919. Mike opened a number of restaurants in Waukegan and most of Mike's family was involved in the restaurant business. His wife Mary and son Pet, ran Mary's Diner in Kenosha and his Robert helped Mike in Waukegan. One of Mike's first efforts was the Star Restaurant on Glen Flora near the old North Shore Line train tracks. Many of the commuters stopped by the restaurant after work to enjoy Mike's home cooking. Later Mike partnered with Aldo Nudi and opened the Italian Village on Belvidere in Waukegan. After Aldo left to open Mamma Mia's in Park City, Mike had his son take over the operation of the restaurant so that he could work on a new venture. Mike envisioned pizza as a coming trend and wanted to devote a restaurant solely to pizza. In 1964, he opened Mike's Pizza at Lloyd & Elmwood, that had been the site of a wood frame grocery store and meat market that dated back to the turn of the century. The..

Primary location: Waukegan United States