Pompei Takes Little Italy's Legacy to the Suburbs — And the Taylor Street Original Has Never Shone Brighter

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/University Village Little Italy · March 3, 2026

University Village Little Italy has always had a way of exporting its Italian-American soul to the rest of Chicago — and now one of its most storied institutions is doing exactly that. Pompei, the beloved Taylor Street mainstay established by the Davino family in 1909, has expanded beyond the neighborhood with a new location in Elmwood Park, IL, tucked inside a development called "The Circle." It's a milestone moment for a restaurant that has been seasoning Chicago with love for well over a century.

But don't worry, Taylor Street loyalists — the original Pompei at 1531 W. Taylor St. isn't going anywhere. If anything, the suburban expansion shines a fresh spotlight on the Little Italy flagship that started it all. The new Elmwood Park location promises the same authentic Pompei experience — family dinners, casual lunches, and dishes made from the same generational recipes — but the heart of the operation remains right here on Taylor Street, where walk-up slices and Italian comfort food have fueled generations of UIC students, Medical District workers, and neighborhood families alike.

For residents, the expansion is a feel-good reminder of just how far Little Italy's culinary legacy reaches across the Chicago area. Stop into the original Pompei this week to show some love for the institution that's been putting the neighborhood on the map since 1909 — and share your order on social media using #PompeiTaylorSt and tagging @SocialhoodChicago!

Sources:
1. https://www.pompeiusa.com/