Lemont Man Finds Success with 'Ats-A-Nice Pizza'

Business name: 

Address: 334 N. Independence Blvd.

Owner’s name: Paul D. Heatherington, who lives in with his wife, Cathy, and his sons, Luke and Zak

Phone number: 815-886-5200

Web site: www.atsanice.com

Opening date: March 1, 1988

Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday; 10 am. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday;  noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

Type of business: Pizzeria/Italian restaurant

Q: How long have have you been in this line of work, and how did you get your start in the business?

A: "Thirty-plus years. I worked as a bus boy, waiter, bartender and cook at Tufano's Chicago for three years. I wanted to be my own boss."

Q: Why did you choose to open your business in Romeoville?

A: "I had an opportunity to purchase an existing business." The location was originally a Turnabout Pizza restaurant, giving Heatherington the chance to buy a business and equipment at a cost lower than starting from scratch. "There's a lot of heart [in Romeoville], he said. "There's a lot of great people."

Q: What makes Ats-A-Nice different from other pizza places in the area?

A: "We serve quality pizza for a decent price. We have a large dining room and banquet room, [and] customers are treated like family."

Q: What's your most popular item, and why do you think it's the best seller?

A: "Pizza — because we offer a large variety of ingredients. The ingredients are fresh, not canned or frozen."

Q: Ats-A-Nice is known not only for its food, but also for its community outreach. How did you get started, and what made you want to give back to the community?

A: "The village of  has been a huge supporter of Ats-A-Nice for 24 years. I have met a lot of wonderful people in town and I have the opportunity to now support their causes ... They helped me, now I take care of them."

Q: Tell us one thing most people don't know about your company.

A: "That we have a banquet facility. We can accommodate parties of 15-125 for birthdays, showers, business luncheons/dinners, rehearsal dinners, weddings, anniversaries, reunions, any type of get together."

Q: Anything else we should know about your company?

A: Ats-A-Nice first opened its doors on March 1, 1988, starting with six employees. Just 22 years old at the time, Heatherington oversaw all aspects of the business. "I would cook, I would answer the phones and I would waiter, and I had one [delivery] driver," he said, laughing. Ten years ago, the business expanded, branching out from into its new dining room and banquet facility. The remodeled restaurant opened on Sept. 11, 2001, Heatherington said. "We've never had a down year in 24 years — knock on wood." Today, the company employs 20 people.