Some restaurants may be polarizing because people have different opinions on food, but it’s rare that an eatery creates actual controversy.

Hooters, you can argue, has raised eyebrows because of the skimpy outfits its waitresses wear. Chick-fil-A has also been seen as controversial by some because its owners have polarizing opinions on LGBTQ+ issues and are open about their religious faith.

It’s even less often, however, that a restaurant’s food itself sparks debate.

Uno’s not only serves deep-dish pizza, but also claims to be the chain that invented the pile of toppings, cheese, and sauce served in a pizza-ish crust.

“It all began when Ike Sewell imagined a pizza unlike any other. Fresh dough with a tall edge, topped with homemade sauce and more cheese than you could believe. People have been lining up ever since,” it says.

Fans, however, may not be lining up quite as much lately, since Uno Pizzeria & Grill, commonly called Uno’s by its patrons, has steadily closed locations for about a year and a half.

Chefs share their thoughts on deep-dish pizza

A number of celebrity chefs shared their thoughts on deep-dish pizza with Eater.com.

“I feel like it’s a lasagna with a crust. The best pizza in the country is New York. Being able to grab a slice, hold it and be on your way is delicious, it’s awesome, it’s a great balance. And then here, the crust it’s too heavy. The cheese is just a big thick goopy mess. I’m just not a fan at all of deep-dish pizza,” shared Graham Elliot.

David Posey was equally blunt.

“I do not think it’s pizza, no,” he shared. “…I just more consider it a casserole. It has all the makings of a pizza, but it just doesn’t feel like thin-crust Neapolitan or Roman-style pizza.”

New York Chef Mathieu Palombino did not hold back, either.

“To me, it looks more like a cake than a pizza,” he answered.

Andrew Zimmern, of “Bizarre Foods,” was the most kind.

“No. It’s fantastic food. It’s unbelievably delicious. I don’t think it’s pizza; however, I think that they should call it pizza, much in the same way that patty melts are also considered hamburgers,” he shared.

Uno’s claims to have invented deep-dish pizza.

Shutterstock

Uno’s Pizza has been struggling

“Chicago’s Uno Pizzeria and Grill, founded in 1943, lost nearly 23% of its sales in 2024 to finish with $114.3 million. It also closed more than 26% of its system to end the year with 53 locations,” Nation’s Restaurant News reported.

The chain has continued to shut down locations throughout 2025.

A location in Springfield, Mass., was shut down in August.

“We have enjoyed being a part of this wonderful community and will truly miss the friendships and partnerships we have made,” it shared with local news station News22.

The chain shared similar sentiments when its Merrifield, Virginia, location shut down earlier this year.

“It is with profound sadness that on January 28, our beloved location permanently closed,” the chain restaurant announced on a since-removed Facebook page. “Thank you to all who have supported us through the years. We love you all and are eternally grateful to you.”

Having closed 2024 with 53 U.S. locations, its website now lists 39 remaining restaurants.

Select Uno’s closings from 2024 and 2025

Feb. 29, 2024: Dayton, Ohio (downtown location)

  • Closed after 25 years.
    Source: Dayton Daily News

July 9, 2024: Westborough, Massachusetts

  • 27‑year-old location shuttered.
    Source: The Sun

Sept. 17, 2024: Framingham, Massachusetts (Route 9)

  • Closed after dinner service.
    Source: MetroWest Daily News

Aug. 18, 2024: Canton Crossing, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Only remaining Baltimore location closed.
    Source: The Sun

2024: Springfield, Massachusetts (Boston Road)

  • Location closed due to lease/cost issues.
    Source: Yahoo News

Jan. 1, 2025: Upstate New York

  • Last remaining Uno’s in the region closed after New Year’s Eve 2024.
    Source: Finger Lakes

Jan. 28, 2025: Merrifield, Virginia (Gatehouse Plaza)

  • Closed after 25 years in business.
    Source: FFX Now

Mar. 23, 2025: Bay City, Michigan

  • Closing after nearly 20 years of service.
    Source: WNEM

Uno’s locations have had long lives

What’s notable about this list of closures is that so many Uno’s locations have survived more than 20 years. It’s possible that the chain has not fallen out of favor, but the market just got too crowded.

“The Bottom Line: The industry had too many locations in 2019. The pandemic led to a lot of closures. But the industry has been aggressively opening restaurants since 2020,” Restaurant Business’s Jonathan Maze shared.

In addition, mid-priced restaurants have recently felt an economic squeeze.

“Casual dining chains typically cater to lower- and middle-income families looking for a sit-down meal, but diners are abandoning these companies as their disposable income shrinks. These restaurants have been hiking menu prices at the same time their customer base has been squeezed by the rising cost of living,” CNN reported.

The economy certainly has not helped chains like Uno’s.

Since 2019, restaurant prices have increased 34%, outpacing the overall growth of inflation during that same period, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

In addition, while Uno’s does not report sales data, the 500 largest restaurant chains in the U.S. experienced a slowdown in sales performance, increasing by just 3% in 2024, according to Technomic’s “2025 Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.”

“Annual sales results for 55% of Top 500 chains fell short of the 4% foodservice inflation rate,” the report added.

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