Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill

Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill was a sports-themed restaurant and bar in San Leandro, California, built around televised sporting events, American dining, and a strong connection to the Las Vegas Raiders franchise. The business began in 1946, when John Ricardo Sr. opened it as a steakhouse. It later moved to San Leandro in 1960 and developed into a sports-oriented gathering place rather than remaining solely a traditional steakhouse. The restaurant's identity was closely associated with Raiders fandom. Its sports-bar format gave customers a venue for watching games and other sporting events while eating and drinking, and its Raiders affiliation helped distinguish it from general-purpose neighborhood restaurants. The business became sufficiently prominent in sports-bar coverage to be described as the second-best sports bar in the United States by both Sports Illustrated and CNN, according to the available reference material. Ricky's also served as a venue for Raiders-related appearances. In July 2018, head coach Jon Gruden held a fan-appreciation event at the restaurant. More than 500 fans attended, and the event included Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, team owner Mark Davis, and former Raiders players and other team legends. The gathering reinforced Ricky's role as a community-facing destination for Raiders supporters rather than merely a place that happened to show sports on television. The restaurant was operated by Ricky Ricardo, who died in November 2020 at age 75. By that time, the COVID-19 pandemic had forced the restaurant to remain closed for several months. A GoFundMe campaign was launched in 2020 in an effort to preserve the business. The available sources do not establish the campaign's financial result or whether it restored the original operation. The original Ricky's subsequently reopened in May 2023 under the name Rickey's Sports Lounge, with Ramonn Smith identified as the new owner. This reopening indicates continuity of the location or concept, but the renamed business should not automatically be treated as the same active brand. On the evidence available, Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill is best documented as the original, now-defunct name of a San Leandro sports restaurant whose legacy continued through a later operation under a different name.

Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill traces its origins to 1946, when John Ricardo Sr. opened the business as a steakhouse. The restaurant did not initially begin as a dedicated sports bar. Its early identity was instead associated with steakhouse dining, before the business later developed into a sports-oriented restaurant and bar. In 1960, the original operation moved to San Leandro, California. The relocation established the setting in which Ricky's became known as a local gathering place for sports fans. Over time, the restaurant adopted a stronger sports-bar identity, combining food and beverage service with televised athletic events. Its most prominent team affiliation was with the Raiders, and the business became recognized as a Las Vegas Raiders-themed venue. Ricky's reputation extended beyond its local customer base. According to the available reference material, Sports Illustrated and CNN each ranked it as the number two sports bar in the United States. These rankings helped frame the restaurant as a notable example of the American sports-bar format: a venue where supporters could gather for games, share a team identity, and combine live viewing with casual dining. The Raiders connection became particularly visible in July 2018, when head coach Jon Gruden held a fan-appreciation event at Ricky's. The event attracted more than 500 fans and included Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, team owner Mark Davis, and several Raiders legends. This appearance demonstrated the restaurant's value as a fan-community venue and strengthened its public association with the franchise. The business faced a severe disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ricky's had been closed for several months by 2020, and a GoFundMe campaign was created in an attempt to save the restaurant. The sources do not provide the amount raised, the campaign's final disposition, or a confirmed reopening under the original ownership. In November 2020, owner Ricky Ricardo died at age 75, adding a leadership and continuity challenge to the pandemic-related difficulties. The location or operation later returned in May 2023 under the name Rickey's Sports Lounge. Ramonn Smith was identified as the new owner. The renamed venue represents a continuation of the restaurant site or its sports-lounge concept, but the available material does not establish that Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill remained an active legal or commercial brand after the change. Accordingly, the historical Ricky's brand is treated as defunct or superseded, while the later Rickey's Sports Lounge is a distinct successor name.

• 2023

  Reopens as Rickey's Sports Lounge

  [1]Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grillen.wikipedia.org

  The operation reopened under a new name and new ownership, with Ramonn Smith identified as owner of Rickey's Sports Lounge.

• 2020

  Pandemic closure and ownership crisis

  [1]Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grillen.wikipedia.org

  The restaurant was closed for months during the COVID-19 pandemic, a crowdfunding campaign was launched to support its survival, and owner Ricky Ricardo died in November.

• 2018

  Raiders fan-appreciation event

  [1]Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grillen.wikipedia.org

  Jon Gruden hosted a Raiders fan event at Ricky's attended by more than 500 fans and featuring team executives and Raiders legends.

• 1960

  Business moves to San Leandro

  [1]Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grillen.wikipedia.org

  The original Ricky's operation relocated to San Leandro, California, where it became known as a sports-oriented restaurant and bar.

• 1946

  John Ricardo Sr. opens the original steakhouse

  [1]Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grillen.wikipedia.org

  John Ricardo Sr. founded the business as a steakhouse, establishing the operation that later developed into Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill.

A community-oriented, Raiders-themed sports bar and restaurant combining American dining, bar service, and communal viewing of live sporting events.

• Restaurant dining · 1946

  American steakhouse and restaurant meals

  The business began as a steakhouse and remained centered on American restaurant dining. The available sources do not provide a reliable menu or specific signature dishes, so the offering can be described only at the broad category level.

• Bar and casual dining

  Sports-bar food and beverages

  As Ricky's evolved into a sports bar, its dining proposition included casual American food and beverage service intended for customers watching games and other televised sporting events. Specific menu items are not documented in the supplied references.

• Sports entertainment

  Televised sports viewing

  A central part of the Ricky's experience was communal viewing of live sporting events in a restaurant-and-bar setting. The venue's Raiders theme made football viewing and team-oriented fan gatherings especially important to its identity.

• 2020GoFundMe effort to save Ricky's

  United States

  A crowdfunding campaign was launched after the restaurant had remained closed for months during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the stated purpose of helping preserve Ricky's.

  Outcome. The available sources do not report the amount raised or confirm that the campaign restored the original business.

  Source
• 2018Raiders fan-appreciation event

  San Leandro, California

  Ricky's hosted a fan-appreciation event led by Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. More than 500 fans attended, with participation from Reggie McKenzie, Mark Davis, and Raiders legends.

  Outcome. The event reinforced Ricky's status as a Raiders-centered community venue. A longer-term commercial impact is not documented.

  Source

• 2023

  Reopening under a new name and ownerStrategy

  Background

  The original restaurant had experienced pandemic-related closure and the death of owner Ricky Ricardo in 2020.

  Action taken

  The operation reopened in May 2023 as Rickey's Sports Lounge under new owner Ramonn Smith.

  Aftermath

  The reopening continued the site's sports-lounge tradition but marked the end of the original Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill name in the available record.

  Source

• 1960

  Relocation to San LeandroStrategy

  Background

  The original steakhouse operation had been established in 1946 before moving to a new location in 1960.

  Action taken

  The business relocated to San Leandro, California, where it later developed its sports-bar and Raiders-themed identity.

  Aftermath

  San Leandro became the long-term home associated with Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill.

  Source

1. 1Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grillen.wikipedia.org