Gino’s East in Rolling Meadows closes Monday

Gino’s East, an iconic restaurant in Rolling Meadows for more than a quarter century, closed Monday, said Valerie Dehner, the city’s community development director.

The restaurant, known for the graffiti on its walls and its deep-dish pizza, was at 1321 Golf Road near Golf and Algonquin roads in the Meadows Crossing Shopping Center, anchored by Meijer.

Many people who have lived or worked in the Northwest suburbs over the decades have Gino’s East stories, including Mayor Tom Rooney, who talks about going there with his late wife, Colleen, when they were dating.

The building will be demolished, and a Panera Bread with a drive-through lane will replace it, it was announced last fall. A Panera nearby on Algonquin Road in Arlington Heights closed almost a year ago.

Dehner said the owners of Gino’s East, which has been in that location since about 1984, are still looking at other spots in Rolling Meadows for a smaller restaurant.