Pizza, pastry retailers named Skokie’s ‘merchants of the year’

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

If anyone needs proof that Skokie residents love their pizza and pastries — especially when they’re as scrumptious as those made in downtown Skokie — the village’s Consumer Affairs Commission provided it.

The Skokie commission presented the Village Inn Pizzeria and the Sweety Pies Bakery with its “Merchant of the Year” award Monday at the Skokie Village Board meeting.

This time, the voting was so close that co-winners had to be announced.

And the winners are not just close together when it comes to popularity, but location as well. They are neighbors on the bustling downtown street of Lincoln Avenue.

It’s also telling that both establishments are family-owned businesses regarded as local treasures antithetical to the chain eateries that pop up in every other village or city.

Village Inn, 8050 Lincoln Ave., celebrated its 20th anniversary last year at the same location as the classic Alberti’s pizzeria at the corner of Lincoln and Brown Street.

One of the many patrons of Alberti’s was Randy Miles who never thought he’d own a pizza joint at the same location years later. Alberti’s opened in 1953 and operated for more than 30 years before going through several owners.

Then Miles came along and made the place a staple once again.

“I came back from Florida in the 1980s and went in to get a pizza,” he recalled. “It was terrible.”

He half-jokingly asked if the restaurant was for sale. When he was told it was, he half-jokingly made “a ridiculously low offer.”

It was accepted.

“My first order of business was to try to get back to the original recipe,” he said. “That was easier said than done.”

After purchasing the restaurant, Miles contacted the son of one of the brothers who owned Alberti’s to try to obtain the original recipe.

“He wanted $50,000 for it,” Miles recalled, laughing. “I asked him if he was absolutely crazy. I offered him $5,000.”

But Miles never ended up paying a cent. A gruff and well-liked waitress (fondly known as “Pat”) overheard his conversation and told her new boss that she knew the ingredients that went into Alberti’s pizzas. After trial and error, Miles knew he had it down.

Sweety Pies Bakery does not have the same long history at 8042 Lincoln Ave. like Village Inn.

Sweety Pies opened on Lincoln on the other side of Oakton Street but then changed locations as its popularity grew. It was the first business to take advantage of the village’s downtown rehab grant program, which helps pay for interior rehab work.

That allowed Sweety Pies after two years to move to a larger location in 2009, the former site of Vitellos Bakery next to the Village Inn.

“The mission of Sweety Pies is to provide tasty treats that are made from scratch using simply delicious and seasonal ingredients,” the owners say.

Fulfilling that mission has earned Sweety Pies recognition in and beyond Skokie as one of the best bakeries in the Chicago area.

Co-owners Arden and Dana Kruger are both experienced bakers. Arden has refined both her family and her own recipes while Dana is a graduate of the French Pastry School of Chicago.

The two design and create custom cakes built to specifications for weddings, birthdays, family celebrations and other special occasions. Sweety Pies products are baked fresh daily and include pies, cookies, brownies, scones, muffins, and cupcakes.

Also sold are galettes, quick breads, various bars, and many other dessert favorites. Breakfast and lunch items include bagels, omelets, french toast, soups, quiche, and fresh sandwiches.

“The inspiration behind Sweety Pies comes from a long tradition of focusing on baking and cooking for the family,” the owners state. “That tradition will continue with serving customers the same quality products they find irresistible.”

The Consumer Affairs Commission’s annual award has become more of a competition in recent years with more ballots cast and more retailers gaining votes.

This year, more than 500 ballots nominating 17 businesses were cast, according to the commission. Ballot entries were available through the NewSkokie newsletter and on the village’s website.

In second place in the voting was Dengeo’s, the popular eatery on the east end of town at 3301 Main St. It was the only business of the top finishers not located in downtown Skokie.

In third place was the Cigar King at 8016 Lincoln Ave. The tobacco shop is located only a short distance to the south of the Village Inn and Sweety Pies Bakery.

In addition to awarding the merchant of the year annually, the Skokie Consumer Affairs Commission sponsors the Skokie Farmers Market and makes recommendations on ordinances and regulations related to consumer affairs.