About Ron Onesti
Onesti Entertainment, founded over 35 years ago by Ron Onesti, is a world-class provider of live entertainment, concerts, theatrical shows, corporate events, festivals, casino shows, and unique dining experiences. With properties in St. Charles and Des Plaines, the industry powerhouse has become a favorite destination for drinking, dancing, and dining throughout Chicagoland.
Ron Onesti is an entertainment industry powerhouse recognized as an innovative leader across the country. As the President and CEO of the iconic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles and Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, he has brought Vaudeville-era playhouses into the twenty-first century. He is the Executive Chef/Owner of: Club Arcada Speakeasy and Restaurant, Bourbon ‘N Brass Speakeasy, Rock ‘N Za Pizza Experience, Rock ‘N Ravioli Italian Restaurant, and Des Pizza. Ron is also the founder and Producer of the Taylor Street Little Italy Festa.
He is an accomplished writer with over three hundred articles published and currently has a Friday column in the Daily Herald entitled, “Backstage with The Arcada Theatre’s Ron Onesti”. Ron is a regular guest on countless radio and television programs.
Ron is the recipient of many awards and recognitions, including Italy’s equivalent to being Knighted in Great Britain, Cavaliere Ufficiale. He was a producer of a PBS special that garnered three Emmy Awards and has been presented with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, one of just a few civilian medal recognized by the United States Congress. In June of 2020, Ron was named the President of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame – just the second in the organization’s 43-year history.
He was born on Taylor Street in May of 1962. His father, Alberto Onesti, was a tailor while his mother Gabriella worked as a seamstress. His parents were proud, working-class, first generation Italian-Americans; his grandparents had come to America and settled in Little Italy, Chicago in 1911. He is the oldest of three siblings, his sister Victoria and his brother Richard. Rich is Vice President of Onesti Entertainment. Ron is a graduate of Weber High School in Chicago and attended DePaul University majoring in Marketing.
