Ike Sewell
Encyclopedia
Issac "Ike" Sewell was an American athlete, businessman, entrepreneur, and founder of the Uno Chicago Grill
restaurant chain that originated in Chicago, Illinois, as well as founder of the Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due restaurants there in 1943 and 1955, respectively. Sewell started as an All-Southwestern Conference guard as a player on the Texas Longhorn football teams from 1926 to 1929.
, 50 miles east of allas], and grew up in San Antonio. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin
, Sewell achieved both All-Southwestern Conference (SWC) and All-American honors as a guard on the Longhorns football squad.
After college, Sewell worked for several years American Airlines
. But with the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Sewell joined Standard Brands in Chicago as a salesman, kicking off a career with the company that led to a vice presidential suite before he retired in 1965.
, offering a style of pizza that was previously unheard of: the Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Sewell had begun dabbling in the restaurant business as a sideline with new-found friend Ric Riccardo, the founder and owner of Riccardo's, a restaurant still popular in the area. The two would eventually expand and open up another restaurant, Pizzeria Due, just a block away from Pizzeria Uno, in 1955. Sewell would also open up the Chicago area's first upscale Tex-Mex
restaurant, Su Casa, in 1963.
in Chicago on August 20, 1990 after suffering from a lengthy bout with leukemia for several years. He was survived by his wife Florence Davis as well as his children and several grandchildren.
Uno Chicago Grill
Uno Chicago Grill, or more informally as Unos, is the title for a franchised pizzeria restaurant chain under the parent company Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation...
restaurant chain that originated in Chicago, Illinois, as well as founder of the Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due restaurants there in 1943 and 1955, respectively. Sewell started as an All-Southwestern Conference guard as a player on the Texas Longhorn football teams from 1926 to 1929.
Early life and career
Sewell was born in Wills Point, TexasWills Point, Texas
Wills Point is a city in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,496 at the 2000 census.-History:Founded in 1873, Wills Point gets its name from an early American settler, William Wills, who had arrived in the area in about 1848. Wills eventually purchased a cabin from Adam...
, 50 miles east of allas], and grew up in San Antonio. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, Sewell achieved both All-Southwestern Conference (SWC) and All-American honors as a guard on the Longhorns football squad.
After college, Sewell worked for several years American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
. But with the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Sewell joined Standard Brands in Chicago as a salesman, kicking off a career with the company that led to a vice presidential suite before he retired in 1965.
Pizzeria Uno and Su Casa restaurants
In 1943 Sewell opened Pizzeria Uno restaurant at the corner of Ohio Street and Wabash Avenue in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, offering a style of pizza that was previously unheard of: the Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Sewell had begun dabbling in the restaurant business as a sideline with new-found friend Ric Riccardo, the founder and owner of Riccardo's, a restaurant still popular in the area. The two would eventually expand and open up another restaurant, Pizzeria Due, just a block away from Pizzeria Uno, in 1955. Sewell would also open up the Chicago area's first upscale Tex-Mex
Tex-Mex
Tex-Mex is a regional American cuisine that blends food products available in the United States and the culinary creations of Mexican-Americans influenced by the cuisines of Mexico.Tex Mex may also refer to:...
restaurant, Su Casa, in 1963.
Death
Sewell died in Northwestern Memorial HospitalNorthwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the nation's preeminent academic medical centers and is the primary teaching hospital for Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. It is the second tallest hospital in the United States and the fourth tallest hospital in the world...
in Chicago on August 20, 1990 after suffering from a lengthy bout with leukemia for several years. He was survived by his wife Florence Davis as well as his children and several grandchildren.