Longtime owner of Jack Straw's Pizza in Wheaton dies

WHEATON – The building that formerly housed Jack Straw's Pizza at 221 S. Naperville Road in Wheaton is for sale after the longtime owner died only a few months into his retirement.

William Hood, 63, of Naperville had owned Jack Straw's for 35 years. Hood, formerly of Wheaton, died Nov. 24. He also owned Rosati's Pizza in Woodridge for 35 years, according to his obituary.

"He especially enjoyed cooking for his family, listening to and playing music, and golfing with friends," the obituary stated.

Jack Straw's Pizza closed its doors in June.

"Thank you Wheaton for 35 wonderful years," the restaurant posted June 10 on its Facebook page.

According to the restaurant's website, Hood opened Jack Straw's Pizza in 1982 because he felt Wheaton "needed a place where people could get a genuine Vienna Beef Chicago-style hot dog."

Besides pizza and hot dogs, the restaurant served a variety of other food made fresh to order, including burgers, wings, cheesesteaks and fresh-cut fries.

The 1,400-square-foot building is being sold "as is" by Baird & Warner real estate agent Alexandra Korompilas. The asking price is $350,000.

The building, which includes a drive-thru lane, has been listed since Oct. 22. At the time the restaurant closed, Downtown Wheaton Association Executive Director Paula Barrington had said she was saddened to hear about the restaurant's closure.

"Jack Straw’s was definitely an institution in Wheaton with some of the best hot dogs and fries (my favorite) around," Barrington said in an email. "This establishment will definitely be missed by many fans. Although the location of the restaurant is somewhat off the main thoroughfare, the location definitely adds to the quirky charm of the place."

Barrington had said she thought another restaurant in the space would be very well-received.

"The advantages of the space already having a kitchen, the drive-thru lane and window, plus on-site parking and outdoor dining space all contribute to the potential of a future restaurant," Barrington said in the email.