A Denver Area Italian Restaurant Keeps Expanding – Will They Takeover Loveland’s Old Chicago?

It's sad to see Old Chicago's closing across Colorado, as the restaurant chain got its start in Boulder in 1976. In March of 2025, the location in Loveland closed its doors after nearly 20 years.

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People have wondered what will become of such a large space; could it become the northern Colorado location of an Italian pizza restaurant that's been around Denver since 1974? While Old Chicago did have pastas, it was mostly about the pizza; an actual Italian restaurant with not only pizzas but also seafood could be perfect replacement.

Centerra in Loveland Could Use Another Italian Restaurant

In early 2026, it became clear that a Denver-area Mexican restaurant, Savina's Mexican Kitchen, would be taking over what was once Pinocchio's in Loveland (which was Johnny Carino's before that.) With that space going from Italian to Mexican, it does leave a great opportunity for an established Colorado Italian eatery to enter the Northern Colorado market.

Will Angelo's Taverna Make the Move to Open a Location in Loveland?

Angelo's Taverna (originally Angelo's Pizza) began in Denver in 1974. In 2013 the restaurant had a new owners and a new theme - less emphasis on pizza, more Italian (and seafood;) the restaurant is known for the amount of char-grilled oysters it serves every year. In 2016 they opened in Littleton, with a 10,000 square-foot mountain-lodge vibe.

READ MORE: Loveland's McWhinney Brothers - Their Berry Beginnings

In January of 2026, it was announced they'd be taking over a former Old Chicago in Colorado Springs. Denver, Littleton, and Colorado Springs would just about cover southern Colorado. Taking over Loveland's Old Chicago would make a lot of sense, while also bringing Northern Colorado a new option.