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How It All Started: From COVID Solution to Canine Sensation
West Town is a bustling area of Chicago, but something special is happening there, in one pizzeria. Not only does Bartoli’s Pizzeria serve tasty slices of hot pizza to hungry patrons, but it makes a special little window where many dogs visit it daily.
Brian Tondryk, Bartoli’s owner never thought that a walk-up window installed over the COVID pandemic period would develop into such a great attraction. “Oh my god, there’s hundreds that they walk by every day,” he shares with excitement. “I mean, it’s all day long. They love coming for the treats!”
A Happy Accident That Became a Neighborhood Hit
The story of how this special window came to be is quite interesting. Bartoli’s opened their West Town location just one week before COVID shut down Chicago – talk about timing! When the pandemic made businesses have to change, they added a walk-up window so customers could safely get their pizza without having to enter the building. But something interesting happened-it became what the locals now affectionately name the “doggie treat window.”
The Woman Behind the Magic
Every great idea needs someone passionate to make it truly special. In this case, it was Stacy Rozack, the manager at Bartoli’s and a self-proclaimed “huge dog person.” She saw the potential in that simple window and helped turn it into something more than just a place to pick up pizza. Under her guidance, what started as a humble water bowl and some treats outside the window evolved into a beloved stop for neighborhood pups.
What's on the Menu for Four-Legged Friends?
While the main treat offered is the classic milk bone (a favorite among dogs everywhere), some lucky pups get an extra special treat – actual pizza slices from the restaurant! Of course, this depends on what their owners allow, but it’s clear that both the regular treats and the occasional pizza slice keep the dogs coming back for more.
Holiday Spirit Goes to the Dogs
The window has become especially festive during the holiday season, with dogs showing up in their most adorable holiday outfits. Videos on the pizzeria’s TikTok account showcase these fashionable furry visitors, though Tondryk is quick to point out that the window is a hit all year round. It’s just that the holiday season brings out the extra sparkle in everyone – including our four-legged friends!
Future Plans: A Doggie Fashion Show with Pizza Prizes
The success of the treat window has inspired some fun future plans. Bartoli’s is working on organizing a best-dressed dog competition, where the winning pup’s owner could receive a free slice of pizza or a discount on their next order. While the details are still being worked out, it’s clear that this will add another layer of fun to an already joyful community spot.
More Than Just a Pizza Place
While Bartoli’s has been a Chicago staple since 2013 (starting with their Roscoe Village location), this West Town branch has created something truly special. Known for both their deep-dish Chicago-style pizzas and thin-crust options, they’ve managed to create a unique experience that brings together two things people love: good food and happy dogs.
Creating Community One Treat at a Time
What makes this story so special is how a simple adaptation during a difficult time turned into something that brings joy to both humans and their pets. The treat window has become more than just a place to get dog treats – it’s a community gathering spot where tails wag, people smile, and everyone feels welcome.
The Impact on Daily Dog Walks
The treat window has actually changed the way people walk their dogs in the neighborhood. As Tondryk mentions, when owners are walking their dogs, the pups now insist on stopping at the pizzeria for their treats. “We go through a lot of treat boxes,” he says with a laugh, showing just how popular this spot has become.
A Model for Pet-Friendly Businesses
This heartwarming initiative shows how businesses can create meaningful connections with their community by including our four-legged friends. What started as a practical solution during challenging times has evolved into a beloved neighborhood feature that brings joy to hundreds of dogs and their owners every day.
Looking to the Future
The success of Bartoli’s dog treat window suggests there might be more pet-friendly innovations to come. While the pizzeria continues to serve up their famous Chicago-style pizzas, they’re also constantly thinking of new ways to make their furry visitors feel special.
The Power of Simple Ideas
Perhaps the most beautiful part of this story is how something as simple as a window and some dog treats could create such a positive impact on a community. It reminds us that sometimes the best ideas aren’t the most complicated ones – they’re the ones that bring people (and their pets) together in meaningful ways.
Creating Your Own Pet-Friendly Content
For those interested in more similar heartwarming content, here are some key things to consider:
- Keep it real: focus on stories that show the bond of pets and their humans.
- Include practical information useful to pet owners.
- Maintain positive and engaging content.
- Use visuals as often as possible to capture cute moments.
- Consider adding a pet-related news and stories section just like the specialized websites with content like dogtime.com.
Bartoli’s Pizzeria’s window of dog treats illustrates just how small gestures can make for big impacts within our communities. It serves as a poignant reminder that, no matter how trying times seem, we can always discover ways to spread joy and unite people, as well as their beloved pets, in truly meaningful ways.
This victory may motivate other businesses to consider ways in which they, too, can be more pet-friendly and develop their own unique approaches to interacting with the four-legged residents of their community. Who, after all, can resist the charm of a wagging tail and a happy bark?
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