Aurelio's Owner Personally Delivers Pizzas To Frontline Workers

HOMEWOOD, IL — While most of society remains primarily at home for what's coming on two months now, the owner of a beloved Chicago-area pizza chain has been out almost daily delivering meals to those working in hospitals, police stations and fire stations amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Personally, I've gone out probably a little more than 20 times so far," Joe Aurelio said during the final week of April. Aurelio's has long been a favorite in Chicagoland, with their first and still premier location in south suburban Homewood. "I put on my mask and gloves every time and started by bringing full pizzas to hospitals and police stations. I've since switched to personal pizzas and salads."

Aurelio has lifted the spirits of the teams at police stations in Homewood, Flossmoor and Chicago Heights among others, as well as healthcare centers like the Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn.

"It's rewarding in itself, and then I got this note from a nurse saying I brightened her day," Aurelio said. "It's our chance to give them a little food, a little break before they go back into the war zone. We need to let them know we appreciate that."

Giving back to the community is nothing new in the Aurelio family, which has been dishing out pizza since they opened their first location back in 1959 on Ridge Road in Homewood. Their primary location has since moved to Harwood Avenue in Homewood and when dine-in services return will continue to seat 650 people.

"We've been in this business for 60 years, all the while sponsoring Little League teams and donating gift certificates," Aurelio said. "Our franchises are embedded in their communities. We are about community, quality, kindness and good service. That's how we built our brand and stayed the test of time."

Aurelio's now has a number of locations across Illinois and in different pockets across the country.

"We've have kind of a weird separation (of locations), but all franchise owners were customers and wanted one in their new towns," Aurelio said.

During the pandemic, Aurelio said at least a dozen pizzas are shipped to other parts of the country every day because people are "stuck in their houses and want to taste the memories of home," Aurelio said.

But they have not gone without challenges of their own. Like most other restaurants across the nation, Aurelio's has had to shut down dine-in services amid the pandemic and their Homewood location alone has been forced to cut their number of employees from 150 to 70.

"Overall, our chain is in good shape," Aurelio said. "It is a natural thing with pizza to have carryout and delivery so we didn't really have to reinvent anything. We are grateful and fortunate to be in the industry we are at this time."

The pandemic has brought about at least one change at Aurelio's, however. It's the addition of the "acts of kindness cards," which encourage customers to join their effort in feeding first responders and healthcare workers.

Customers who purchase a $50 gift card to give to first responders, healthcare workers or even a friend of family member who needs a pick-me-up gets rewarded with a $10 act of kindness card. Cards can be purchased online only, and Aurelio says more than $12,000 worth were sold in the first four weeks of the initiative.

"This not only supports our Aurelio's locations, but first responders and medical field professionals as well," Aurelio said.