For a restaurant chain to be in business for 65 years is a feat. For that chain to stay within the same family for four generations is an even bigger one. 

But somehow Home Run Inn has made it work in the Chicago area, decade after decade.

It celebrated a related milestone close to home Friday when it threw a pizza party in honor of the 25^th anniversary of the Darien location. 

“Darien was a blossoming suburb,” said President Dan Costello, “and we were able to come in and establish ourselves as a community-friendly restaurant from day one.” 

Throughout its history in Darien, Home Run Inn has lived up to its aspirations as a community partner, Mayor Kathleen Weaver said. The restaurant sponsors events and partners with organizations on wide range of activities, she said.

The relationship goes both ways. Darien helped sponsor the company’s revenue bonds when it built a plant in Woodridge, Weaver said. 

“They’ve been a great business partner,” she said.

The company prides itself on serving all-natural, preservative free foods, in both its restaurants as well as through its line of frozen pizzas. Its recipes have remained virtually unchanged since the first restaurant opened, Costello said.

“We’ve stood true to it,” he said. “And it’s worked out that the (natural foods) trend is stronger and stronger every day.”

Home Run Inn sells its frozen pizzas in five states and is now the No. 1 frozen brand in the Chicago area, he said.

As for Weaver’s favorite kind of pizza: “Veggie,” she said. “Whatever they put on it.”