Joe Christiano bought Little Joe's Tinley in Jan. 2024. After a remodel and menu revamp, he hopes people will try it—and he kept the pizza!
TINLEY PARK, IL — When Joe Christiano bought a longtime Tinley Park staple, he was sure of one thing: the pizza couldn't change.
Christiano took over Little Joe's, 7976 167th St., in January 2024, after its owners decided to sell and step away from the family-owned business of more than 60 years. Christiano knew the pizzeria was beloved, and quickly honed in on the things he shouldn't change.
"Keeping the name was a big thing," Christiano said, "because everyone knows the name."
And, of course, the pizza.
"Keeping that legacy of their pizza going was most important to me."
Initial news of the Tinley spot's sale in 2024 had many disappointed—and worried. It had been the last location standing for the chain that got its start on 63rd Street in Chicago in 1958. It had remained family-owned and operated, with the Chicago location closing and the Tinley one opening in 1991. Locations in New Lenox and Frankfort also followed; both were later sold before the Tinley one.
The former owners did their best to reassure fans last year.
"We are excited for the new owners as they embark on their new journey, continuing Little Joe's legacy!" Abe, Sue, Gerardo, Vincenzo and Victoria Vazquez said in a note to supporters in 2024. "We wish them much success and remember, you are always family at Little Joe's! Until we meet again, CIAO!"
With a clear vision of a neighborhood pub in mind, Christiano immediately got to work at the space.
"Gutted it for six months," he said. "Completely remodeled it. Brand new kitchen, front of the house, bar, painting, tables, chairs. You name it, we completely redid the entire inside."
Now, he's brought his vision to fruition—a modern-style pizzeria in the front half, a bar in the back—and he's hoping people who were skeptical of the change will give it a chance.
"People don’t even know that we’re still here," he said. "All it’s been has been word of mouth. The biggest thing right now, is to get more people in the door to show them that the pizza is the same."
Christiano's experience in the restaurant industry runs more than two decades deep. The Lockport resident previously worked with the Francesca's restaurant group—now Scott Harris Hospitality—for 17 years, before parting ways and opening modern, upscale casual The Phoenix Kitchen & Cocktails in Homer Glen.
As that business was growing, Christiano first eyed the New Lenox Little Joe's location, for its proximity to his home, but the price wasn't quite right. That location sold in 2023 and ultimately became a Hog Wild.
He didn't know that the Tinley Little Joe's was for sale until the family approached him.
"When I went and looked at it, it made sense of what I was looking for," he said.
He had a very specific idea for this venture. The Palos Park native and Sandburg High School alum can easily picture his time at Palos Park watering hole McDivot's. Now defunct, the bar in a strip mall at 129th and LaGrange Road had a neighborhood feel Christiano sought to replicate.
"We always went there," he said. "Being in the restaurant business, I always said I wanted a McDivot’s. A local neighborhood hangout—kinda like 'Cheers.' Everyone knows everybody. Tucked inside the strip mall, that was more of my vision of that place."
He took that idea to the back half of Little Joe's, transforming it into "Sneaky Pete's Pub"—a sports bar reminiscent of a Western saloon. Big screens play sports, with gaming up and running, too. Raffles, trivia nights, karaoke nights are in rotation.
In the front half, a family-feel pizzeria might remind people more of the previous space. They can accommodate private events up to 90 people, as well.
The full menu—appetizers, soups, salads, handheld deluxe sandwiches, tavern- and Detroit-style pizza—is available in both.
They've changed up the menu to include items like a pot roast sandwich, half-pound burger, and a Reuben. You can check out their full menu online and find them on Facebook for specials and deals.
"The meatballs are absolutely awesome," Christiano added. "We make all our meatballs in house.
"We make our own pot roast, corned beef. Everything’s homemade now. Everything’s prepped from scratch."
And the pizza? He's got that covered, too. A cook that worked under the previous owners has also been brought onboard to maintain quality, Christiano said.
Christiano is also known to get into the kitchen and help out.
"Making sure the dough recipe’s right, the sauce is right," he said. "Making the pizza the same way it’s been made since decades ago."
There's no draft beer—everything is in bottles and cans—with seltzers and more offered at the full bar in Sneaky Pete's.
"Ton of bourbon, ton of wine," he said. "You name it, it's there for you."
Christiano says he's excited for people to rediscover a reimagined old favorite.
"We still have the same pizza, it’s still a great place to come out," he said. "... New people making it work, in a better environment."
Little Joe's is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kitchen closes at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.