LADD — Area residents can now enjoy homemade pizzas and other Italian food items in Ladd.

Tracy Fousekas and Garrett Calevaugh recently opened Savario’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria at 115 N. Main St. in Ladd where Torri’s Ice Cream Parlor had operated for many years, dating back to the 1930s.

“There is a lot of history in this place,” said Calevaugh. “We tried to keep its charm. We still keep some ice cream here for people to have dessert because of it being served here for many years.”

The majority of the new restaurant’s menu consists of homemade specialty pizzas made every day, added Fousekas. Other items are gyros, appetizers, salads, burgers, subs and ice cream.

“We felt there was a real need for pizzas out here,” said owner Fousekas, who has 17 years of experience working in the restaurant business.

The restaurant is named after Calevaugh’s best friend growing up in Montgomery, Illinois, Savario “Sam” Simmons, who was killed in a car accident in 2015.

“We dedicated it to him because we wanted to have an Italian theme for a pizza restaurant,” said Calevaugh. “It was always his dream to open a restaurant.

“We brought his mom here after opening, and she had no idea we named it after her son. She was real emotional,” he said.

Savario’s hours are from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Tuesday. The phone number is 815-894-9316.

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