100 Years in, Pompei expands to Elmwood Park

For more than 110 years Pompei has been a family-run, Taylor Street icon in Chicago. Now, a new generation is stepping up to help open a location in Elmwood Park at 22 Conti Pkwy. in the Conti Circle. They expect to open the dining room doors in early September.

Owner Ralph Davino grew up above the original Taylor Street location with his parents and grandparents.

“Our building was a six flat. They had a bakery on one side and a tavern on the other. I used to come down at midnight with my uncles and make the dough. I remember when the machine broke and me and another guy had to kneed 100 pounds of dough, so we could open,” Davino said.

Until that point Pompei bakery only sold bread and cheese pizza. Pastries were eventually added. Then in 1984 when his uncle became ill, Davino took over operations.

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Jumbo cheese pizza at Pompei. (Provided)

“When I got it, we started sausage, pepperoni pizza. And I started making sandwiches,” Davino said. Soon he created what he called strudels, based off the sweet version, but filled with savory flavor and with more filling to dough ratio than a calzone. Today there are 12 varieties on the menu including eggplant parmesan, poor boy with ham, turkey stuffing and BBQ.

Fast forward two generations to Davino’s grandchildren lending a hand too:

“When we were younger, we would always work the festivals. We would come down and work the Taylor Street fest,” grandson Lucian DiPofi said. “That was some of the best times I can remember, just running around, probably eating him out of all the inventory.”

Tomato cream gnochi at Pompei. (Provided)

Over the years Pompei expanded to six locations, but through changes and then Covid, the number was back down to one – on Taylor Street. Then an opportunity arose in Elmwood Park. It was a great fit, according to Davino, because of the deep connection between the two areas. When the University of Illinois’s Chicago campus expanded in the 1960s, it forced many Italians to leave Taylor Street’s Little Italy neighborhood. Many settled in the Elmwood Park area.

“Elmwood Park has been great. They’re very oriented to business. They want us here,” Davino said.

The new location was formerly a Jewel grocery store, then a convenience store. It has been gut-rehabbed. Though it’s new inside, the menu and the heart of Pompei restaurant will remain the same, according to DiPofi, who is the next generation to manage a Pompei location.

“We are consistent. Over time people come back for the same product that we’ve had. Our pizzas – it’s on the same dough that we’ve been making forever,” DiPofi said.

Fresh greens at Pompei. (Courtesy of Pompei)

“All our stuff is homemade. I can stand behind anything I make,” Davino said. “The only thing I don’t make is the ice cream.”

“But even that is made locally,” said DiPofi.

Gnocchi with vodka sauce is one of those house-made highlights. And so is the item that started it all – cheese pizza.

“Still my best!” said Davino.

“What I tell people, if they’re coming in for the first time, I say you can’t go wrong with those two,” DiPofi said. “They are classics that you just can’t get rid of or else it wouldn’t be a Pompei.”

That being said, there is an expansive menu of southern Italian favorites and weekly specials. But there are surprises.

“Wednesday is our American Day. We have a Sloppy Joe special. We have a meatloaf, a special beef stew, cream soup,” DiPofi said. “It showcases that we are American too. We love our Italian heritage and our American culture.”

When they open, Pompei will serve beer, wine and a few pre-mixed cocktails. A party room will be available, starting a few weeks later. And true to the family-centric vibe, Davino is going to help a convenience store open next door, so that the community doesn’t lose that resource.

While you wait for the opening, you can fill up on Pompei at the Taste of Elmwood Park, Aug 7-10.

Know before you go:

Opening: September 2025
Website: pompeiusa.com
Address: 22 Conti Pkwy, Elmwood Park