Franconi’s, New Fat Ricky’s Now Open in Romeoville

ROMEOVILLE, IL -- Almost a year to the day after its groundbreaking, Romeoville’s newest development opened Friday morning.

In a joint facility with the brand-new Fat Ricky’s location, Franconi’s “The Italian Grocery” is now open at 648 N. Independence Boulevard. Both the restaurant – a longtime Romeoville business – and the grocery store opened their doors on Friday.

Franconi's owner Franconi Guagliardo shared the news via Facebook:

The grocery store offers an Italian deli with meats and cheeses, produce, fresh-baked breads and desserts including Italian doughnuts and cannoli, plus freshly roasted coffee. Franconi’s also has a drive-thru – one of two drive-thrus in the new facility -- for coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

Franconi’s hours are 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Romeoville mainstay Fat Ricky’s got a new "Italian village" look in the new facility, plus a separate bar and banquet area. The restaurant has long served up pizza, sandwiches and pasta in Romeoville.

Watch owner Rick DiPego talk about plans to shift from the old location at 660 N. Independence – a “repurposed hot dog joint” -- into a new home that better fits Fat Ricky’s:

Romeoville Mayor John Noak stopped by Franconi’s on Friday morning, and said he thinks guests will love the look of the store, with high ceilings, upscale finishes and an open plan.

“People are going to be pleasantly surprised at how nice the atmosphere is,” he said, adding that shoppers will also be pleased with the selection. “(Franconi’s) has a lot of things you don’t get anywhere else.”

The joint Fat Ricky’s/Franconi’s is located at the northwest corner of Route 53 and Alexander Circle in front of the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center.

More new businesses are slated to open this year in the nearby Uptown Retail Center/Harris Bank development.

Photo: Screenshot via Facebook