Lou Cardone, longtime Onion Roll owner

May 09, 2019 617

BY: Melissa Elsmo

Lou Cardone, former owner of the Onion Roll (1984-2014), died peacefully at home on May 3, 2019 with his wife Judy by his side. One of nine siblings, Luigi "Lou" or "Louie" Cardone, emigrated to Chicago from Ceglie del Campo, Italy in 1955 with his family. After settling on Taylor Street in Little Italy, the Cardone family made their way to Galewood to put down roots. Surely pasta graced the large Italian family's table on a regular basis, but Lou made an unlikely business leap later in life that would leave a long-lasting mark on the Oak Park culinary community.

One fateful day in 1984, he received a tip that the owners of the Onion Roll were looking to sell. Lou and his brother Johnny jumped at the chance to take over the combined deli/restaurant and the unlikely adventure of "two Italian guys" running a Kosher deli began. The Cardone brothers left an indelible mark on the North Avenue deli for 30 years. 

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SOURCE: https://www.oakpark.com

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