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26 | March 21, 2019 | the new lenox patriot life & arts newlenoxpatriot.com VENDORS WANTED Back in business Ranch Frostie opens for first time in 2019 Join the LARGEST women's expo in the southwest suburbs! 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 27 Tinley Park Convention Center Deadline is April 10 (708) 326-9170 ext. 16 22ndcenturymedia.com/lady h.warthen@22ndcenturymedia.com Reach more than 87,900 homes and businesses! Publishes: 2019 GUIDE THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019 Space reservation deadline: Wed, March 27 Ad approval deadline: Tues, April 2 22ndcenturymedia.com Call 708.326.9170 to reserve your Ad today! Left to right: The New Lenox Patriot’s Assistant Editor Megan Schuller, The Homer Horizon Editor Tom Czaja and The New Lenox Patriot Editor James Sanchez pose for a picture Thursday, March 14 during opening day of Ranch Frostie, 1259 N. Cedar Road in New Lenox. Photo submitted faith From Page 22 member currently struggling with addiction, suspected addiction, or currently in recovery. Central Presbyterian Church (1101 S. Gougar Road, New Lenox) Bible Study 7 p.m. Tuesdays Trinity Lutheran Church (508 N. Cedar Road, New Lenox) Sunday School and Living Lutheran 9:15 a.m. Sundays. For more information, call (815) 485-6973. Sunday School and Adult Bible Class 9:15 a.m. Sundays. Christ Mission Church (22811 S. Cedar Road, New Lenox) Celebrate Recovery 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday. For anyone struggling with hurts, habits, or hang-ups. For more information, call Deb at (708) 516-6318. St. John of Chicago Chapel (112 Church Street, New Lenox) Missio Dei Church (123 W. Wood St., New Lenox) Women’s Study 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays and 9-10:30 a.m. Saturdays. Study materials will cost $10.50, and books will be distributed before the study begins. Payments will be collected on the first class. Pay by cash or make checks payable to Missio Dei Church. The Hub (1303 S. Schoolhouse Road, New Lenox) The Center Youth Group 6:30-9 p.m. every Thursday. Teens ages 12-19 are welcome. The night features live music, an open gym, an encouraging message and a chance to meet new friends. For more information, call (815) 717- 8002. Cherry Hill Church of Christ (2749 Lancaster Drive, Joliet) Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Sundays. Grace Episcopal Church (209 N. Pine St., New Lenox) Italian Night 6 p.m. Saturday, March 30. Dinner & Entertainment Cornerstone Church (1501 S. Gougar Road, New Lenox) Men’s Bible Study 6-7:30 a.m. every Friday. For more information, call (815) 462-7700. Junior and Senior High Bible Study 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday. For more information, call (815) 462- 7700. “From Dope to Hope” 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday nights, Opiate Recovery Group for both users & their loved ones held at Peace Lutheran Church. Have something for Faith Briefs? Contact Assistant Editor Sean Hastings at sean@newlenoxpatriot.com or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 48. Information is due by noon on Thursdays one week prior to publication.
newlenoxpatriot.com dining out the new lenox patriot | March 21, 2019 | 27 The Dish Love for the oven plus love of the work equals success Nancy’s Pizza inspires employees to ‘be their best selves’ T.J. Kremer III Contributing Editor Owner of Nancy’s Pizza in Mokena and New Lenox Jim Naumczik was not always interested in the restaurant business. In fact, it was not until he and his wife, Mary Ellen, who is also his business partner, were sitting in a Nancy’s parking lot in Tinley Park when they realized the potential for success. Jim was a volunteer fireman in Mokena and a sales representative for PepsiCo before deciding to try his hand at nursing. He enrolled in classes for that at Joliet Junior College and eventually ended up working in the emergency room at Palos Community Hospital. “While I was at the ER, I used to work the night shift,” Jim said. “One of the women in the ER, her husband bought the first or second Nancy’s franchise in Tinley Park on 171st [Street] and 80th Avenue. And she said, ‘Based on your sales background, you might really like this.’” So, Jim and Mary Ellen went to stake out the Nancy’s in Tinley Park, just to see how business there was doing. They went on a Friday night, ordered a pizza and sat in the parking lot to see what they could see. The pizza shop — known the area over for its 2 1/2-inch stuffed crust pizza (starting at $16.75 for a small with just cheese), Godfather (a roasted Italian beef with mozzarella cheese on garlic bread for $8.25) and Godmother sandwich (oven-baked breaded chicken tenders, marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese on garlic bread, also $8.25) — was pulling in business left and right. “We sat in the parking lot eating a pizza and said, ‘You know, we could do this,’” Jim said. Jim figured he would need a partner in the business, and Mary Ellen agreed. So, she quit her job at PepsiCo and joined her husband in their new endeavor in October of 1995. But the Naumcziks were not satisfied with just one shop. So, after reading a book called, “The E Myth,” Jim decided to open his second Nancy’s location in New Lenox in 1998. “That book [partly] is where I started to realize in order to do this in the volume and the demands, we really, really need special people to do this,” Jim said. And so, with the same care that the Naumcziks put forth in selecting ingredients and preparing their famous stuffed pizza, pasta and sandwiches, they began to surround themselves with like-minded employees who maybe were only in it at first for a starter job but whom the couple could help cultivate. “We’ve always been on this mentoring pattern of just a passion for what we do being in our restaurant and, also, working with our people to be the best versions of themselves. This system is set up where you could start as a dishwasher and, if you really have the passion and the drive, then Nancy’s Pizza • 19803 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena • 1840 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox Hours • Mokena (carryout and delivery): 3:30-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 3:30-11 p.m. Friday- Saturday; 3-9 p.m. Sunday • New Lenox (carryout and delivery): 3:30-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 3-10 p.m. Friday- Saturday; 3-9 p.m. Sunday For more information ... www.nancyspizza.com Nancy’s Pizza franchise owner Jim Naumczik pulls a famous 2 1/2-inch stuffed pizza (starting at $16.95 for a small with just cheese) from the oven. Naumczik has owned the Mokena Nancy’s location since 1995 and the New Lenox location since 1998. Photos by T.J. Kremer III/22nd Century Media Awards for their food and recognitions from area youth sports leagues adorn the walls of the Mokena Nancy’s location. you could become a crew leader and assistant manager or manager — and if you really want, eventually own your own business.” Twenty-four years later, the business partnerships and the personal relationships they have made with their employees are still going as strong as the popularity of the food they sell. Case in point: Ken “The Bulldog” Selucky was one of the first employees hired by the Naumcziks at the Mokena location to be a pizza-maker back in 1995, when he was 17 years old. In 2003, he became business partners with the Naumcziks in their third Nancy’s location in Bourbonnais. “I just love the excitement of Friday nights: getting ready, getting the prep ready, getting the crew ready and, just overall, love the environment,” Selucky said. “Yes, it’s a lot of hard work, but at the same time I feel accomplished monthly or weekly based upon sales.” It is that overall sense of accomplishment — not only in the food the business produces but also in the bonds the team creates with each other — that really keeps things going at Nancy’s. Amanda Augustyniak is a one-time former employee and now current assistant manager in charge of pasta and catering. She spent some time doing an internship at Walt Disney World as part of her culinary school training before coming back to Nancy’s. She perhaps best summed up what makes this Nancy’s special. “I was so happy to see Jim and Mary Ellen again, and I came back,” Augustyniak said. “And I don’t know if I’m ever going to leave, because this is the best job I ever had.”
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