2023 Summer Valparaiso Magazine

CULINARY ADVENTURES AWAIT | PIKK'S TAVERN >>
Two men stand
in front Horn's
Quality Market
next to a truck
in 1922. Photo
from Indiana
Album, Inc.
(pastperfectonline.com)
Beto Olivares, Paul LoDuca
and Jose Luis Olivares stand in
front of Pikk’s Tavern, present day.
By Katie Bieber
ake a step back in time and savor
rich Valparaiso history when
you enter Pikk's Tavern in downtown
Valparaiso. Built in 1921, the building
was originally home to Horn's Quality
Market, a local butcher shop. An examination
of the outside of the building reveals
an oxidized copper cornice, emblazoned
with "Horn's Block" in raised letters,
an homage to what it once was. A parapet
with a limestone tablet reading 1921 still
stands tall amongst the other downtown
buildings lining Lincolnway.
Inside, owner Paul LoDuca has maintained
the building's beautiful, and original, historical
accents from floor to ceiling including terrazzo
floors, brick walls and a tin ceiling. The
bar on the main floor was purchased from
an Elks Club in East Chicago, also originally
built in the 1920s, which adds to the overall
charm. A stroll down to the lower level reveals
sturdy steel beams, and a small room
that was once used to smoke meat, char still
covering the walls.
From Dishwasher to
Critically Acclaimed
Restaurant Group Owner
LoDuca's humble beginnings as a dishwasher
and busser began at his father's restaurant
Giovanni's in Munster. Finding passion for
the industry at an early age, he decided to
attend culinary school at Johnson & Wales
College in Rhode Island. Ultimately returning
home, LoDuca embarked on a new chapter in
Chicago. After working for others, he would
eventually open his first restaurant in Chicago
called VINCI on Halsted in 1991. Finding success,
he opened a second restaurant in Chicago
called Adobo Grill in 2000. His expanded
culinary repertoire led to the creation of his
restaurant group daVinci.
SERVED WITH A
PIKK'S TAVERN OWNER EMBRACES THE RICH
HISTORY OF AN HISTORIC VALPARAISO BUILDING.
Inspired by then Mayor Costas' vision for the
area, LoDuca moved his family to Valparaiso
in 2002. Upon learning that 62 Lincolnway
was for sale, he bought the building and was
able to procure one of Valpo’s downtown
historic district liquor licenses. Pikk's Tavern
opened in June 2007. "It has really worked
for us. Even though it's a small community,
there's a huge dining scene and an appetite
for dining," reflected LoDuca.
A Name Inspired by Family,
Food That Makes You
Feel at Home
You may have wondered what's behind the
name Pikk's Tavern. "It's the first initial of everybody
in our family. Obviously, I'm P, my
wife is Kathy. I have a daughter Karli and a
daughter Isabel. So, it's all of us together."
This familial foundation can be felt in Pikk’s
classic dishes: steaks, fish and chips, and the
Tavern Burger, all served in a comfortable
and cozy setting. And for those who desire
a longer stay, Pikk's Inn is conveniently located
above the tavern. Its two guest rooms
are furnished with antique furniture and
modern amenities.
When asked what the future looks like, Lo-
Duca answered with calm confidence. "VIN-
CI has been around for 32 years, Adobo 23
years, and Pikk's is going on 18 years. So,
we're the tortoise, we're going to keep chugging
along. Some places come and are hot for
a while, but then they're gone. We're still going
to be around," concluded LoDuca.
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