World Market will feature retail items from across Italy, including a host of gourmet Italian food products, as part of a dramatic expansion facilitated by the Italian government. The chain of specialty/import retail stores launched its Italian Shop with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 18 at World Market Lincoln Park, 1623 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. The ceremony was followed by an open house until 7 p.m. that includes a coffee-and-cookie sampling from 10 a.m. to noon and food tasting event and raffle drawing from 4 to 7 p.m. (312-587-8037) The expansion and open house were made possible with the assistance of Italian Trade Agency.

The law firm of Amari & Locallo has once again received high marks from their peers in the field of real estate tax reduction.

Partners Leonard Amari and John Locallo were voted the top real estate tax lawyers in Illinois in the 2022 edition of Super Lawyer magazine, and associate attorney Vincent Oppedisano was recognized as a “Rising Star” in the field.

Last year, Amari was ranked by Leading Lawyer magazine as the No. 3 lawyer in the state in the real estate tax field, and Locallo was ranked No. 9. Both Amari and Locallo were rated “The Midwest’s Top Lawyers” in their field in this year’s National Law Journal.

With offices in Chicago’s River North neighborhood in Cook County, and in Bloomingdale in DuPage County, Amari & Locallo concentrates exclusively in reducing real estate taxes on commercial, industrial and residential properties in Illinois.

Tony’s Fresh Market recently opened a store at 965 Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach, bringing the number of outlets in the grocery chain to 17. The company’s holdings include a warehouse and corporate headquarters in Itasca. The Round Lake Beach location is the chain’s first in Lake County. The business was founded in 1979 by Tony Ingraffia and his uncle, Domenico Gambino, both of whom were born in the small Sicilian town of Ciminna. For the rest of the story, turn to pages 60 and 61.

After 20 years at its expansive space on Harlem Avenue near Belmont in Chicago, Arezzo Jewelers has found a perfect fit at its new location on North Avenue in Elmwood Park.

“We needed an update, and we found out that it was easier in the long run to create a new space for ourselves,” says Michael Spilotro, who co-owns the jewelry store with his wife, Jeannie.

The move also ushers in a greater role for the Spilotros’ son, Vincent. With a graduate gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America and an apprenticeship with a master jeweler under his belt, he’s able to bring 21st-century technology to the ancient art of jewelry making and design.

The city of Arezzo is the gold capital of Italy, and its namesake store is known for crafting and selling gold and other jewelry with an Italian flair. The family makes regular trips to Italy in search of new merchandise.

Among the store’s offerings are earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, chains, religious medals, and engagement and wedding rings. They also specialize in certified natural and human-made loose diamonds.

The Spilotros are the area’s official Pandora jewelry retailer, and they carry a host of other name brands, including Luvente, Mars, Benchmark and Savoia.

Arezzo Jewelers is located at 7544 W. North Ave., Suite 1, Elmwood Park, IL 60707. For details, call 708-716-3626 or click here.

Entering its 25th year of operation, Spizzico Pizza & Pasta was at a crossroads. With a host of options available to the owners of the Elmwood Park dining landmark, the path forward was nevertheless clear: Keep it in the family.

“We’ve been in business since 1996,” co-owner Rocco Spizziri says. “My parents (Tito Sr. and Edvige) had this building on North Avenue, and when my brother (Tito Jr.) asked if he could put in a pizza place there, my dad let him.”

Thus, Spizziri Company, aka Spizzico, was born. Known for its double crust pizza and other casual Italian fare, Spizzico quickly gained a following throughout the area.

Then tragedy struck. Tito Jr. passed away, and Tito’s wife, Linda, needed help, so the entire Spizziri family pitched in.

As many as 30 family members have kept the business humming at one time or another. Many of them have other jobs or attend school, but they all put in time at Spizzico as well as at the family’s Mexican-themed restaurant next door, Señor Jefe.

“The whole point is to have the family here as much as possible,” Spizziri says. “For anyone in the family, there is always a job to fall back on. The door is always open.”

Spizzico is located at 7446 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707. For details, call 708-583-0002 or click here.

by Michael Solarz

Here is proof that what goes around comes around.

For nearly three decades, Bill Conforti made 3066 to 3070 N. Clybourn Ave. the home of Siding-1, Windows-1, and Cobblestone Development.

After Siding-1, Windows-1, was sold in 2012, the property was redeveloped in 2015 and is now the new showroom and headquarters of Cobblestone Development.

Conforti’s Cobblestone Development is focused in two areas: exterior home improvement such as windows, siding, porches, and decks. Also, renovations including kitchen, baths, basements, and additions are offered. Bill also offers his Mission Statement: “Cobblestone Development, Inc. is Chicagoland’s premier provider of quality products and services to ensure our customers receive the finest improvements to the interior and exterior of their homes.”

Conforti said ”what really makes us unique is our 30 year track record of thousands of satisfied customers and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.” The majority of our business comes from previous customers and referrals.

Along the way, Conforti received many commendations such as: “The Big 50” Award (from Remodeling Magazine that honors the nation’s Top 50 remodeling firms), and the “Top 500” Award (by Qualified Remodelers Magazine which identifies the best contractors across the county). Bill’s company was given the “Honor of Excellence” from the City of Chicago which designated an honorary day on June 16,(?). Additionally, Bill Conforti has been featured in many industry publications.

In 2011, Conforti was awarded his own street in Chicago. Oakley Avenue at the intersection of Clybourn is now the “Honorary Bill Conforti Way.”

“Yes,” Conforti smiled, “I always wanted to have my own way.”

Visit Bill at 3066 N. Clybourn Ave. at the “Honorary Bill Conforti Way” or call (773) 661-0606. For more information visit www.CobblestoneDevelopment.com.

Michael Segreti, president of REX Electric and Technologies, announced several promotions on the management team. Mike Bosco has moved into the position of executive vice president of sales/business development. Bosco has been with Rex for 23 years, the majority of that time being spent in senior management roles overseeing operations. Mike Ahern will be moving onto the global sales team along with Will Sutila, and Jim Jaskolski has been promoted to vice president of operations for the Electrical Interior Division. Rex Electric & Technologies is a leading electrical and technology contractor. Family owned and operated since 1919, it was founded by Angelo Perciabosco. For more, click here.

Franklin Park-based Tukaiz recently expanded its large format capabilities with the installation of two HP Latex 3500 high-volume production printers. “These are exciting times for our company and clients,” says Frank Defino, Jr., vice president and managing director at Tukaiz. “With the addition of these high-efficiency machines, Tukaiz can offer more large-format services along with highly diverse printing options. Many of our client applications require high volumes with exacting quality on a wide variety of substrates. The addition of these devices will further support our ability to deliver customized materials created, printed, finished and fulfilled from our campus.” (tukaiz.com)

Specializing in campaign strategy and design creation for both digital and traditional media, agenz also offers instant access to Tukaiz’ award-winning marketing production services. The addition of a dedicated agency allows Tukaiz to move rapidly from creative conception to final production delivery, according to Tukaiz President and Managing Partner Dan Defino.

“Having a comprehensive agency capability right on our campus gives us yet another service we can offer clients who understand the value of streamlining their marketing efforts with a start-to-finish solution,” Defino says. “What is most exciting is that it allows us the opportunity to think strategically about the end of the creative process in the beginning. It reverses the historical approach and brings tremendous added value to our customers.”

This integrated approach has already been implemented with current customers like Trinchero Winery, Arby’s, Chicago Health Medical Group, TGI Friday’s, and new customers like Invuity.

Tukaiz was founded in 1963 by Frank Defino Sr., and is run by the second generation of the Defino family.

http://www.tukaiz.com