Pizza patriarch still active in the family business at 91

Fred Rosati, who recently turned 91, still plays an active role in the pizza empire he sliced in the market more than four decades ago.

The Hinsdale man makes his way into the office three or four times a week and travels the country to open new pizzerias.

"He's going to Arizona next week to open a store there," said son Jeff Rosati who assists in running the Warrenville-based pizza company.

There have been many openings over the years. Fred opened the first Rosati's Pizza in Mount Prospect in 1964. Niles and Arlington Heights were the next towns to house the pizza shops. There are now more than 150 locations, of which half are family-owned.

Family and friends celebrated Fred Rosati's birthday last week at the Arlington Heights pizzeria.

Serving Italian food runs deep into the family history. The family served Italian food to customers in New York at a restaurant back in the late 1890s. After the turn of the century, the family moved to Chicago and opened another Italian restaurant featuring Italian-style pizza.

As the Rosati family grew, so did the business.

"I remember walking around in the kitchen of the Arlington Heights store," said Jeff Rosati. "I started making pizza when I was 13."

Having six brothers and sisters, everyone helped out.

A large family is the main reason the business has grown the way it has, Jeff said. He added that his father is one of 10 children.

"All the family is in the business. Nieces and nephews are opening their own stores," Jeff said.

Within the past year, the company has pushed the franchise effort outside the family.

"We treat all franchisees like family," Jeff added.

"Typically our franchisees grew up eating at a Rosati's, and now they want to run one of their own," said Rick Rosati, Jeff's brother. "When we open a store in a new place like Arizona or Texas, we find that many of our first customers are people who knew and loved their neighborhood Rosati's when they lived in the Midwest."

He added that another reason for the company's success is that all stores follow guidelines insisting that the food be prepared from scratch daily and that quality ingredients are used.

Store operators are expected to purchase from a restricted list of premium food suppliers.

For more, check out www.rosatispizza.com.

Expansion plans: BIK & Co., Certified Public Accountants and Management Consultants, announce that they merged with Bayer, Kolof & Lev, Certified Public Accountants located in Northbrook. The company will be moving to BIK's Palatine office in August. The Palatine office at 625 N. North Court, Suite 200 will undergo an expansion.

"Combining our accounting, audit, tax and consulting services accelerates our strategy of building a leading local firm serving individuals and privately held businesses," said BIK Managing Partner. The firm also has offices in Libertyville.

Alden courts of Waterford, Aurora and Family Centered Hospice are hosting a Bereavement Art Therapy Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 16 at the Alden Horizon Senior Living Community, 2000 Randi Drive, Aurora.

The Legacy Art Workshop is an event that allows individuals to create a memory box keepsake to hold favorite photographs, hair locks, jewelry and other small memorabilia of a loved one.

For more, call (630) 851-1466.

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