Founder of Fat Ricky’s restaurant in Romeoville dies

Rick DiPego, the owner of Fat Ricky’s restaurant in Romeoville, has died.The restaurant, known for its authentic Italian cuisine, made the announcement on its Facebook page Wednesday.“For 21 years, Fat Ricky was so much more than the founder of this business,” the post states. “He was family. He was someone who loved hard, showed up for the people he cared about, and always made sure those around him knew they had someone to lean on. He cared deeply about his staff, his customers, and this community. If you knew Ricky, you knew his heart was big, his love was real, and he always looked out for his people.”The restaurant, located at 646 N. Independence Blvd. in Romeoville, was closed on Wednesday.“We will be closed today to take time to grieve this tremendous loss, be together as a family, and honor the man who brought so many of us together,” the restaurant states in its post. “We are navigating how this next chapter will pan out. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, loved Rick,