Ats-A-Nice Pizza Celebrates 25 Years

Paul Heatherington was 21 years old when he decided to open his own business. He drove 25 miles each way to get to At's-A-Nice Pizza and he worked seven days a week.

"I think in any business, you have to give 100 percent," he said. "I remember selling my car to get a better gas mileage car."

Today, 25 years later, he lives much closer to his Romeoville restaurant and he has come to love the people he serves.

"The best thing about it is the people out here; There's so much heart out here," he said.

Heatherington began his business in 1988 with 1,800 square feet. In September 2001, he debuted a larger dining room and a banquet facility. The smaller pizzeria sat 50 people.

"We still kept that 1,800 square feet, but we added 2,400 square feet," he said.

The restaurant needed more kitchen space and the banquet facility is unlike others in the area and is booked constantly.

"We book that 20 times a month," Heatherington said.

About a year ago, Heatherington said he added deep-dish pizza to the menu. The restaurant also now offers fresh salmon, pastas and sandwiches.

"We have 20 different pasta dishes," he said.

A Family Affair

When Heatherington began the restaurant, he was single. Since then, he married his high school sweetheart and they have two children. Everyone works in the restaurant. That's especially true on Friday nights.

"On a Friday night, you feel like family," he said. "It's a family restaurant; people feel like family."

His family works at the restaurant and some of the employees are more like family than just workers.

"I've had employees that worked for me that now their kids work for me," Heatherington said.

Even now, 25 years after risking it all to open a pizza place, Heatherington still enjoys coming to work.

"I still love coming; I come every day," he said. "There's nothing like putting a smile on a customer's face."