Skuddlebutts Is Back in Downers Grove
Few restaurant names carry as much nostalgia in Downers Grove as Skuddlebutts. For decades, Skuddlebutts became a local staple, known for its pizza, casual family atmosphere, catering services, and involvement in countless community events. Whether it was a Friday night pizza order, a graduation party, a corporate luncheon, or a neighborhood gathering, Skuddlebutts was part of many memories for local families. Today, after several years away, the Skuddlebutts name has officially returned to its longtime home at 440 Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove.
Is it Danny?
Since news of the reopening began circulating, many people have reached out to me personally asking if I reopened the restaurant. The answer is no. I couldn't be happier as we continue to grow The Glover Team, Platinum Partners Realtors, and our real estate business. While I was the owner of Skuddlebutts for many years, I sold the business to Al's Pizza in 2021. Recently, I had the opportunity to take the business back over and subsequently sold it to a new local family who will be operating under the Skuddlebutts name moving forward. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations, ownership, or management of the restaurant, but I am excited to see the brand continue and to watch a new chapter begin for a business that has meant so much to the community.
A New Family Carrying on a Local Tradition
One of the things that makes this reopening special is that the new owners recognize what the Skuddlebutts name means to Downers Grove. Their goal is not to reinvent what people loved about the restaurant. Instead, they are focused on preserving the quality, service, and community-centered approach that helped make Skuddlebutts a local favorite in the first place. Customers can expect familiar favorites alongside a renewed commitment to providing great food and dependable service for families, businesses, schools, sports teams, and community organizations throughout the area.
What You Can Expect on the Menu
Skuddlebutts has always been known for more than just pizza. The menu includes a variety of pizza options along with burgers, sandwiches, wings, pasta dishes, salads, and other family-friendly favorites. The focus remains on quality ingredients and food prepared fresh to order. Of course, pizza remains the centerpiece. Whether you're a longtime customer who remembers the original Skuddlebutts or someone discovering it for the first time, the restaurant continues to offer the classic pizza experience that helped build its reputation over the years.
Catering Continues to Be a Major Part of the Business
Many people associate Skuddlebutts with pizza, but catering has long been one of the company's strengths. The catering operation serves everything from family celebrations and graduation parties to corporate events, school functions, sporting events, and neighborhood gatherings. Options include traditional catering packages as well as on-site grilling services for larger outdoor events. For many local residents, Skuddlebutts catering has been part of some of life's biggest milestones, and the new ownership intends to continue serving that important role in the community.
Looking Ahead
Restaurant businesses are never easy, and the fact that a local brand can return after several years away is something worth celebrating. The reopening of Skuddlebutts brings another locally operated business to Ogden Avenue while preserving a name that has been part of Downers Grove history for generations. While ownership has changed, the goal remains familiar: provide great food, dependable service, and become a place where people gather with family and friends. As someone who spent many years building the Skuddlebutts brand, I am grateful for the support the community showed over the years and excited to see a new family carry the torch forward. If you've been wondering whether Skuddlebutts is back, the answer is yes. And for many longtime Downers Grove residents, it feels a little like welcoming an old friend home.
