Business & Tech

RoSal's Bids Bittersweet Farewell to Plainfield

Owners Joe and Cyndi Fulco are shutting down the location to focus on other businesses, volunteer work.

If you’ve got a craving for Chicago-style Italian favorites, you’d better hurry.

, the family owned restaurant that got its start on Taylor Street in Chicago, will close the doors of its Plainfield location for the last time at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Cyndi Fulco, who owns the eatery with husband Joe, said the decision came as she became more active in volunteering and Joe opened up a third business.

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After four-and-a-half years in Plainfield, Cyndi said, “It was time.”

But the goodbye isn’t the end for the restaurant, located at 13717 Route 30 in Plainfield.

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The location is scheduled to reopen next month under the leadership of Rick DiPego, owner of .

“Ricky is our cousin,” Cyndi explained. The new Fat Ricky’s location will be the latest for DiPego, who also owns the original restaurant in Elmwood Park, as well as franchises in Romeoville, Shorewood and Tinley Park.

Since the new restaurant will focus more on pizza than RoSal's does, Cyndi said DiPego plans to remodel the kitchen before reopening. When he does, he’ll bring some familiar faces with him.

“My staff has been training with him in [another Fat Ricky’s] location,” Cyndi said. She said knowing her dedicated employees would still have work made making the decision to close a bit easier.

“I probably wouldn’t have made the decision [otherwise],” she said. “That would have been hard for me.”

Cyndi said DiPego hopes to reopen by June 1.

The Plainfield closing isn’t the end for RoSal’s. The Taylor Street location, celebrating its 22nd year, will stay open.

Saying goodbye to Plainfield customers hasn’t been easy, Cyndi admitted.

“It’s bittersweet because of the people that I’ve met here,” she said. “We’ve made so many friends and become part of people’s families. That’s what I’m going to miss, my people. … It’s been really sad because they’re crying, and I’m trying not to cry.”

Cyndi said in addition to the Taylor Street restaurant, she’ll focus on continuing her volunteer efforts in Plainfield.

“I’m actually really excited to start a new chapter,” she said.


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