09/23/2026
Sadly, our friend and fearless leader , Rich Chearo passed away early this morning He was surrounded by loved ones, was comfortable and died with dignity
There’s so very very much more to be said about his life , but for right now I want to DEDICATE this article to him 💪🍕
He demonstrated wholeheartedly what it is like to put your best foot forward and he loved serving others
Rest in peace 😇🕊️✨✌️🍕💝
Love, Colleen
18 Years Why Supporting a Small Business Matters
By Colleen Loftus
For 18 years, people have walked through the doors of our pizzeria looking for a meal, but what they found was often something more. Our pizza place was a place where you showed up to meet friends, bring family, laugh, talk and get a sense of belonging. After all these years I've learned that a small business is never just a building, a menu or a cash register. It is a collection of people who have chosen to make that place part of their lives and that is why supporting a small business matters.
From 2008 to 2019, at our original Tinley Park location, people found a place to celebrate, a table for a first date, a familiar bartender after a long day at work, a server who remembered them and the popular Southside Mural that sparked meaningful conversations.
From the outside running a successful restaurant can look simple. People see the customers,camaraderie,exceptional service, systems and operations. What they don't see are the early mornings, late nights, payroll, repairs, rising costs, rent, equipment repairs, vendor relationships, staffing challenges, unexpected setbacks along with the countless decisions ,endless sacrifices and daunting tasks that have to be made just to keep the doors open. You begin to wonder how you will survive all of it, but when you find yourself in the valleys, you dust yourself off and pick yourself back up. Most importantly, you rise above and get back in the game by rebuilding, restructuring, and reinventing.
You don't keep going because it's easy. You keep going because you believe in what you're building and that belief requires something more than a business plan. It requires resilience, determination and the willingness to get back up when things don't go according to plan. After 18 years in business, I understand that entrepreneurship isn't simply about owning a business. It is about becoming the kind of person who can withstand the uncertainty that comes with it.
Entrepreneurs need
Vision - the ability to see something that doesn't exist yet and believe it can become real
Courage - taking a risk means accepting that there are no guarantees
Resilience - setbacks are inevitable, and sometimes the only option is to rebuild and try again
Adaptability - because markets, customers, costs and circumstances can change overnight
Persistence - the ability to continue showing up even when the excitement of starting something new has long worn off
Problem-solving skills -every day can bring a new challenge
Creativity-especially in an industry as competitive as food service
Leadership - a business isn't built by one person alone: employees, partners, customers and vendors all become part of the journey
Rich's Pizza Joint & Fattys is an exceptional Place
We pride ourselves on service excellence and quality food that results in an excellent/ feel good experience.
Over the years, our themes reflected that philosophy:
"It's All Good" & "Live and Let Pie" represented the culture we created over the years.
Relocating after an astronomical rent increase didn't mean losing our commitment to quality. If anything, it gave us another opportunity to reinvent ourselves.
THE BIG FATTY
A Fatty is our take on a pizza burrito or calzone—a fun, unique creation that has become part of the Rich's Pizza Joint identity. It's another example of what happens when entrepreneurship meets creativity: you take something people already love and find a new way to experience it.
Why Your Choice Matters
Your decision has a trickle down effect on the owner, staff, landlord, service providers and vendors. It has a big impact on opportunities for all of the parties involved in what it takes to keep the doors open.
Small businesses don't have the resources or safety nets of large corporations when times get difficult. So the people behind the scenes feel it personally and that's because they aren't simply managing a business. They’re living and thriving off of it.
18 Years Has Changed my Definition of Success
I started this journey wanting to build and create something meaningful. I wanted to solve problems, create opportunities and serve my purpose. Looking back, I realize I wasn't just building a business. I was building a place where people could connect and create memories and to me that is a very different kind of success. In a nut shell it boiled down to growth, development and connection.
Supporting Local Is About More Than a Purchase
I don't measure what we accomplished only by how many pizzas we sold; I measure it in relationships, friendships, conversations, devotion and not taking any short cuts.
The next time you have a choice, consider supporting locals- go to the neighborhood restaurant, buy from the independent shop because behind that counter is someone's livelihood. Stay mindful that it’s someone who took a risk, signed the lease, invested in training employees and invested an awful lot of time and effort in the quality of product and service . It’s also someone who puts their reputation, finances, time and energy on the line in order to make a difference.
A Small Business Isn't Really Small
It may have a small number of employees, one location and a small marketing budget but its impact can be enormous on humanity. Small businesses create memories, jobs, opportunities and connections- a place where people get to know one another. It’s not only the product , but the connection that gave these past 18 years meaning.
Come Experience the Uniqueness
Today, you can find us at:
Carryout & Delivery
We offer handcrafted Chicago thin pizza, high-quality ingredients, made-from-scratch dough, sauce, fresh cut vegetables, sweet peppers, garlic butter, chicago beef and birria pizza. Pizzas are cooked in a carousel style oven .
Dipping Sauces: Hot Honey & Garlic Butter
Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pizza Birria- slow cooked chuck roast simmered in homemade consume sauce and served with fresh lime , cilantro & red onion
Slices
Fatty Family
All Fattys are made with Meat & Cheese
Rolled into a garlic butter crust
Baked in Oven and served with side dipping Sauce :
Original Big Fatty - Italian Beef / Au ju to Dip
Mother Clucker- BBQ or Buffalo chicken with Bacon / Ranch to Dip
Double Trouble - Meatball & Pepperoni / Garlic Butter or Red Sauce to Dip
Birria - Pot Roast Simmered in Consume sauce/ Fresh Cilantro/Red Onion / Consume Sauce to Dip
www.richspizzaandfattys.com to order, learn more and become a VIP.
Play Hard - Live Free- Eat Well @ Rich's Pizza & Fattys — because sometimes it's about more than you realize.
A deep heartfelt thank you to all who have continued to support us throughout the years !
Rich's Pizza Joint in Frankfort, IL. Call us at (708) 532-8486. Check out our location and hours, and latest menu with photos and reviews.
