San Leandro Sports Fans Grieve Owner Of Ricky's Sports Theatre

San Leandro CA

15 November, 2020

3:51 PM

Description

SAN LEANDRO, CA — Sports fans across the Bay Area were grieving the loss of a beloved, longtime business owner and local icon this weekend. Ricky Ricardo, owner of Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill in San Leandro, has died, the bar posted on Facebook. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Ricky, the post said. "The family is mourning this great loss, but do appreciate all of the love, messages and condolences being sent their way." Ricardo's father opened the local watering hole at 15028 Hesperian Blvd. in 1946 and throughout the decades, the bar became a gathering place for Raiders fans. The bar was reportedly struggling financially earlier this year due to closures during the pandemic. Ricardo was also diagnosed with dementia four years ago, the East Bay Times reported. Robert Gingery, a friend of Ricky and his wife Tina, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money to help the bar weather the financial storm triggered by the pandemic. The effort has already raised $19,028 of Gingery's $100,000 goal to save the bar. "Ricky's Sports Bar has been a fixture in the East Bay for nearly half a century," Gingery wrote on the GoFundMe page. "It has been home base for the Oakland Raider Nation and the main gathering place to watch and share all the pro sporting events in the area and nationally." Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill was also named by Sports Illustrated as one the top two sports bars in America. "How can we let it go under?" Gingery wrote. "...Please help. I know none of us wants to lose Ricky's, one of the classic, iconic sports bars in the USA." The Bay City News contributed to this report. — GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.