Rick Olivieri, the grandson of cheesesteak inventor Pat Olivieri and former owner of Rick’s Steaks at Reading Terminal Market, died on June 12 at his Drexel Hill home. He had worked for his father and opened Rick’s Original Philly Steaks at Reading Terminal after his father’s retirement in 1995.
A Family Legacy
Philadelphia folklore dictates that local restauranteur Pat Olivieri created the steak-and-onion sandwich at his hot dog cart near Philadelphia’s Italian Market in 1930. Pat’s passed down this legacy to his son Herb and eventually to Rick, who continued the tradition with a unique twist on the beloved sandwich.
Creating a Signature Style
Rick Olivieri’s signature cheesesteak recipe involves cutting the steak in thin slices and keeping them whole during cooking, without chopping the meat. They add a little water to the grill to create steam and keep the grill from sticking. This method differentiated Rick’s sandwiches from other famous restaurants like Pat’s King of Steaks.
An Icon at Reading Terminal
The Reading Terminal Market began over 130 years ago as a farmers’ market, making it one of the oldest public markets in the United States. Visitors can still partake in a steaming hot sandwich from Rick’s Dunkin Donuts shop.
A Cultural Staple
The Philadelphia cheesesteak is a world-famous sandwich consisting of thinly sliced beefsteak, melted cheese, and stir-fried onions stuffed in a long hoagie roll. Rick’s love for people was unmatched, leaving a lasting impression on all those who met him.This genuine love for others is all too fitting for a man who lived fully, worked heartily, and died peacefully in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.
A Lasting Impact
Rick’s Steaks earned numerous accolades and honors, including Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly award for “Best Cheesesteak.” His involvement in festivals such as the annual one held in Aix en Provence to celebrate the Philadelphia-Sister City relationship further cemented his role as an ambassador for Philadelphia’s food culture.
A Role Model to Many
Four years later, Rick met and married Debi, a sassy Italian girl working at a neighboring restaurant at Reading Terminal Market. They raised two beautiful daughters Kristin and Chelsie. Despite his many commitments, Rick attended Penn State, majoring in business management with the intention that he would one day own his own steak shop—a dream he fulfilled upon Herb’s retirement.
This genuine love for others is all too fitting for a man who lived fully, worked heartily, and died peacefully in Philadelphia
,the City of Brotherly Love.
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