Will County Gazette

Mike Rose, co-founder of the Chicago Dough Company in Richton Park, has said that the Black-owned business is nearing its 50th year but is struggling to remain open due to high sales taxes. Rose has requested village support for advertising assistance, as reported by South Cook News.

"I think if the Village of Richton Park should help us advertise this business with a new sign using some of the hundreds of thousands of dollars we have paid over the years in sales and property taxes," said Rose, Principal Partner and Founder of Location Finders International (LFI). "The Village of Richton Park passed a special additional 1% sales tax on all downtown Richton Park businesses which has impacted the Dough Company. It took away 20% of our profit. We'd love to get our devoted customers to contact their village board members in order to help keep this business thriving in Richton Park for another generation."

Founded in 1976 by Rose, the Chicago Dough Company on Sauk Trail holds the distinction of being Richton Park’s longest-running business and restaurant. It is renowned for its Chicago-style pizza and has been a staple for community gatherings over the decades. Rick Payne, who began his career at the restaurant as a dishwasher after high school, purchased the business in 1999 and has managed it for over 25 years. The establishment has received multiple local and regional accolades, including First Place at the 2017 Pizza Fest for Best Specialty Pizza and Best Chicago Style Pizza from Daily Southtown's Best of Chicago’s Southland.

According to Rose, the business is under financial strain due to Richton Park's sales tax rate of 11.5%, which is currently the highest in Illinois. This situation makes it challenging to maintain profitability as Richton Park approaches its own 50th anniversary in 2026. Payne noted that when he asked a Trustee if they knew of another business that had been in Richton Park for 50 years, they were unable to provide an answer. He mentioned that most customers are locals from Richton Park, Park Forest, and Matteson. Payne also recounted a conversation with a Board of Trustee member who suggested setting up a GoFundMe campaign.

Rose explained that since 2016, the restaurant has paid approximately $750,000 in sales taxes. The financial margins have been further strained by a non-home rule tax introduced in 2022 and lingering effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners are now seeking village assistance to fund a billboard aimed at attracting more customers.

In addition to his involvement with the Chicago Dough Company, Mike Rose opened a McDonald’s and built a Walgreens in Richton Park where he served as landlord for two decades before it was converted into a Dollar Tree. His father, Allen Rose, operated Rose Concrete and Construction on Sauk Trail starting in 1955.