John Locallo, Partner at Amari & Locallo
The CIAP Friday Member Spotlight celebrates the professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who strengthen Chicagoland’s Italian-American business community. Every member brings a story shaped by work, family, culture, and the relationships they build along the way. This week, we’re pleased to introduce John Locallo, Partner at Amari & Locallo.
John’s story brings together a career in law, Sicilian family roots, music, and a homemade tradition that deserves its own place at the table. We’re happy to share a little about the person behind the professional title, and to celebrate the variety of people who make our community what it is.
His work: A partner at Amari & Locallo
John is a Partner at Amari & Locallo, a real estate tax law firm with roughly 10 lawyers and offices in Chicago and Bloomingdale. The firm’s work in real estate tax law is a specialized part of the broader professional landscape, serving as a reminder of how many different kinds of expertise contribute to Chicagoland’s business community.
John’s own path into law began close to home: he followed his brother Joe into the practice. It’s a simple but meaningful detail. Sometimes a career direction starts with seeing someone you know take a path, and deciding to follow it yourself.
That connection to family sits alongside John’s professional role today. As a partner at a firm serving the Chicago and Bloomingdale areas, he is part of a practice focused on real estate tax law. For people working across property, business, and professional services, the field is one more example of how focused legal work plays a role in the region’s economy.
You can learn more about the firm and its team through Amari & Locallo. To explore CIAP’s professional community, visit the Business Directory, where you can browse member businesses and professionals.
His Sicilian roots
On his father’s side, John’s family is from Sambuca, Sicily, and his grandfather was from Ciminna, Sicily. Those two places are part of his family’s story. A connection across generations that brings a personal dimension to this spotlight.
Family roots can mean different things to different people. For some, they’re a way to learn more about where relatives came from; for others, they’re carried forward through food, customs, and the stories shared around a table. John’s answers offer a lovely reminder that heritage can remain present in everyday life, even while a career unfolds here in Chicagoland.
An artistic landscape inspired by Sicily’s hill towns and countryside.
At CIAP, we’re proud to bring together people whose family histories and professional journeys meet in our region. If you’re looking for an Italian American Chicago community where you can meet others, share your story, and build professional relationships, you’re warmly invited to connect with us.
Life beyond the office
John’s interests reach beyond his work: he plays guitar and keyboard in the band 5-thirty. It’s a wonderful detail to include in a professional profile because it opens up another view of someone’s life outside the office.
Music can bring people together in a way that feels different from a business meeting, though both can start with showing up and finding a shared rhythm. We won’t pretend to know what a 5-thirty set list sounds like, but we can say that having a band in the mix makes this spotlight a little more musical than most.
An illustrative still life inspired by John’s interest in playing guitar and keyboard.
For CIAP members and prospective members alike, stories like John’s help show how much variety exists within a professional network. Your work may be one part of your introduction, but your interests and experiences can also give others an easy way to start a conversation. You never know where that first conversation will lead, and sometimes a shared interest is all it takes to get one started.
Food and tradition
John’s favorite Italian food is sausage, pepper, and onion pizza. It’s a classic combination with plenty of flavor and, we think, an excellent case for not overcomplicating dinner.
His favorite tradition is homemade Italian sausage. Food traditions are one of the ways family history becomes something you can share and enjoy in the present. Whether you’re gathering around a kitchen table or talking about a favorite dish with friends, familiar flavors can make a connection feel immediate.
An artistic still life inspired by John’s favorite pizza and tradition.
For John, homemade Italian sausage is a favorite tradition; for readers, it may bring to mind a food memory of your own. Maybe it’s a dish your family makes for a special occasion, a recipe passed along, or the pizza order everyone agrees on (a small miracle in any group). These personal details add warmth to a professional community and give us one more reason to learn about one another.
Connect with the Chicagoland Italian-American community
We’re proud to spotlight John Locallo and to celebrate the many ways members contribute to Chicagoland’s professional and cultural life. His story connects a career in real estate tax law with family ties to Sicily, music with 5-thirty, and a favorite tradition of homemade Italian sausage.
CIAP welcomes professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, organizations, and anyone looking to take part in the Italian-American community across Chicagoland. If you’re searching for a Chicago Italian American club with a professional focus, we invite you to explore CIAP, meet fellow members, and find opportunities to connect.
Take a look at CIAP membership options and browse the Business Directory to learn more about the community and its members. If you’d like to learn more or stay in touch, contact Salvatore at salvatore@chicagolanditalians.com. We’d be happy to hear from you, and we hope you’ll join us at an upcoming CIAP gathering.