What Happened to Tony's Villa Rosa Pizza?

After two years in business at its Front Street location in Mokena, closed its doors Monday, April 30. The business, which was run by Mauro DiSabato and his family, closed due to what he said was unfair business practices by Great Lakes Bank in Mokena.

“They threw me out of business, basically,” DiSabato said.

DiSabato, whose family also runs several other businesses, including the Tony's Villa Rosa Pizza in Frankfort, said his woes began when Great Lanks Bank foreclosed on the building's previous landlord.

He said that after the bank took over, his gentleman's agreement (on a month-to-month basis) with the previous landlord went out the window and despite his best efforts to secure a longterm lease, it was to no avail. Representatives from Great Lakes Bank declined comment. 

“They basically weren't very receptive to me at all, they wanted me to sign a lease that was unfavorable to me, that day,” DiSabato said. “I said, 'No,' and they got mad, and basically took it all very personal and said, 'You're going to hear back from our lawyers.'”

He added that he tried offering the bank more money than he was previously paying for rent, but that the bank was unwilling to accept any compromise with him.

DiSabato said that while the loss of the Mokena location was a hard blow, he was already looking for a new spot in Mokena. He added that he will offer free delivery from his Frankfort location, for any Mokena residents who still want Villa Rosa pizza.

“We're going to do free delivery to our customers, so they don't have to have the burden of coming out here,” DiSabato said. “We're going to do free delivery out of here, until I can find a new, better location in the Mokena area.”