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Dream's Pizza licensed for carryout shop at 17 W 35th St in Chicago

Dream's Pizza licensed for carryout shop at 17 W 35th St in Chicago

New Capabilities Chicago, IL local

Carryout-only licence issued Oct 28 runs to 2028; the re-inspection before it logged four violations

October 28th, 2026: Chicago issues Dreams Pizza licence

Overview

Updated Nov 1

Dream's Pizza holds a Chicago licence to sell food at 17 W 35th St, issued Oct 28 and valid through Nov 15, 2028. City records name the licensee as 17 W 35th INC. and list Ayanna Banks as owner; the licence covers food prepared onsite with no dining area.

The Oct 7 re-inspection that came before the licence passed with conditions and logged four violations, two of them priority foundation. Inspectors found no employee health policy on file and no kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea. Records do not show whether the shop is serving customers.

Why it matters

If it opens, the 35th Street shop brings a south-suburban carryout favorite into Chicago without a dine-in space.

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Key Indicators

2
South-suburban locations
Dream's Pizza runs shops in Markham and Calumet Park.
1
Chicago licence issued
Retail Food Establishment licence for 17 W 35th St, issued Oct 28 and expiring Nov 15, 2028.
2
Licence inspections
First failed Oct 1; re-inspection passed with conditions Oct 7.
4
Violations at re-inspection
Two were priority foundation: no employee health policy and no vomit/diarrhea cleanup kit.

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People Involved

Ayanna Banks
Ayanna Banks
Owner listed on the Chicago licence for 17 W 35th St
Named as owner of 17 W 35th INC. on the Dreams Pizza retail food licence issued Oct 28, 2026

Organizations Involved

DP
Dream's Pizza
Restaurant group (carryout)
Holds a Chicago licence for 17 W 35th St; runs two south-suburban locations

Pizza carryout with shops in Markham and Calumet Park and a Chicago licence for 17 W 35th St.
City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
Municipal licensing agency
Issued the licence after inspections

Licenses and inspects Chicago food businesses.

Timeline

3 events Latest: October 28th, 2026 · 2 weeks ago

  1. Chicago issues Dreams Pizza licence

    Latest Licensing

    Retail Food Establishment licence (no dining area) issued for 17 W 35th St.

  2. Re-inspection passes with conditions

    Inspection

    A follow-up inspection passed with conditions. It logged four violations, two of them priority foundation: no employee health policy on file and no kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

  3. Initial licence inspection fails

    Inspection

    Chicago's first inspection of the 35th St food establishment returns a fail.

Scenarios

1

Dream's Pizza opens 35th Street carryout shop

Possible Resolves by Apr 28, 2027

Discussed by: Local food media and the brand's own order pages; the City's licence data will show active status.

The business completes any remaining work and begins taking orders at 17 W 35th St. A listing on its website or a delivery platform, plus an active city licence, would confirm operation.

2

Licence issued but 35th Street location never opens

Possible Resolves by Apr 28, 2027

Discussed by: A common outcome for retail food licences that lapse before a business starts trading.

The licence is issued but the shop doesn't begin operating. The City database would show the licence expiring or being revoked without a working order channel.

3

Dream's Pizza opens its planned Hazel Crest shop

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Owner Mickey Banks, in a June 2026 What Now Chicago report

Banks said in June 2026 that a third shop would open at Hazel Crest Center, 17553 Kedzie Ave, later that year, and that he might close the Markham location when it did. No opening date was set at the time.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2019-2023

Ghost kitchen boom and bust (2019-2023)

Companies like Kitchen United and REEF opened hundreds of delivery-only kitchens during pandemic lockdowns, betting on a permanent shift to delivery. As COVID restrictions eased and delivery demand fell, most operators shrank or shut down.

Then

Kitchen United and REEF closed or scaled back many locations by 2023.

Now

The category showed that no-dining-area models work best for established brands testing new areas, not for standalone ventures.

Why this matters now

The no-dining-area licence at 35th St is a low-cost way for an established pizzeria to test Chicago without the overhead of a dining room.

1971-2026

Lou Malnati's expansion from Lincolnwood (1971)

Lou Malnati's opened its first deep-dish pizzeria in Lincolnwood in 1971 and expanded across Chicago's suburbs and the city. It grew into one of the region's best-known pizza names.

Then

The chain built a loyal local following through consistent quality and delivery.

Now

It became a template for suburban pizza brands moving into the city and going regional.

Why this matters now

Dream's Pizza follows that path in miniature: proven suburban shops, now a first city licence.

Sources

(7)
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City of Chicago Dream's Pizza Dream's Pizza BizPulse GUTCHECK Chicago What Now Chicago City of Chicago