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An Antioch-based pizza chain is planning to open a Woodstock location.
Antioch Pizza Shop, which operates four other restaurants in Illinois and Wisconsin, is planning to open two new locations in 2020, including a Woodstock restaurant. Owners also are planning to open a new eatery in Burlington, Wisconsin.
The Woodstock restaurant is proposed for 150 S. Eastwood Drive in the former Ace Hardware building. The restaurant owners, Karen Wicklein and Art Wicklein, are in the processing of building out the interior to create the 3,600-square-foot pizza shop space which will be aesthetically similar to its other locations.
Antioch Pizza Shop was founded in 1977 and the Wicklein family took over in 2008, Karen Wicklein said. The restaurant has a "fast casual" atmosphere and serves Italian beef, pizza, burgers, hot dogs and other sandwiches.
"We both grew up in Antioch and wanted to do something in the community business-wise," she said. "We are super excited to be a part of Woodstock. We can't wait to integrate into the community."
The shop will employ between 20 and 30 people, she said. The company is hosting an open interview hiring event from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Best Western, 990 Lake Ave., in Woodstock.
The four existing restaurants are located in Fox Lake, Antioch and Lindenhurst, and in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin.
Wicklein said the pair hopes to open the Woodstock restaurant by February. Antioch Pizza Shop in Woodstock may be followed on its Facebook page: Facebook.com/Antioch-Pizza-Shop-Woodstock-101199174645074/.