Lake in the Hills restaurateur who was shot dead made 'everybody feel welcome,' friend says

Peter Rim's friends and the Lake in the Hills business community are remembering him as a restaurateur with a huge heart.

Rim, who co-owned two restaurants in the village, died Thursday after he was shot in the head while riding in a vehicle on Chicago's Northwest side, police said.

The 46-year-old from South Barrington was the co-owner of Bistro Wasabi and El Cochino in Lake in the Hills. He died at 10:57 a.m. Thursday at Mount Sinai hospital in Chicago, police said.

Rim was riding in the vehicle with two other people about 6:35 a.m. Thursday. They were driving westbound in the 4100 block of West Diversey Avenue when a SUV pulled up beside them and a man inside started shooting, Chicago police officer Laura Amezaga said.

The perpetrator fired between four and five shots, she said. Amezaga said it was not known whether the suspect said anything before he began shooting at the car.

Rim was taken to the hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the vehicle and the second passenger, who was sitting in the back of the car, were not injured, she said.

The incident is under investigation and no one has been taken into custody, she said. Rim's death is being investigated as a homicide, she said.

"It saddens our hearts at Bistro Wasabi and El Cochino to say we have lost one of our own today," Bistro Wasabi posted on its social media page. "His wild, fun, energetic, and loving legacy will live on forever. We love you Peter Rim, more than words can describe. You affected so many lives here and every one here misses you so much."

The restaurants were closed Friday morning. Rim's autopsy was to take place Friday, according to the coroner's office.

Renee Erling, executive director of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce, said Bistro Wasabi and El Cochino both were chamber members.

Although her interactions with Rim were mostly limited to when she and her family would go to one of his restaurants for dinner, Erling said he was always friendly and well-liked by the community.

“This is a loss to the entire community and our thoughts are with his family,” Erling said.

Dean Sheridan of Indianapolis worked with Rim at his restaurants for about 15 years and spent about five years as his roommate.

Sheridan said Rim was one of his best friends and when he does come back into town, his time is usually spent hanging out with him.

“I probably would’ve been with him in the car that morning,” Sheridan said.

With his long hair, big beard, jewelry on all five fingers, necklaces and pendants and a chained wallet the size of a small phone book, Sheridan said Rim was a rock-n-roll chef and restaurateur with a huge heart.

“He touched so many people through is business and hospitality and creativity,” Sheridan said. “He was particularly gracious and going out of his way to try to make everybody feel welcome.”

If Rim got to know you as a customer and found out what some of your interests were, Sheridan said he would find something related to that interest to give to the customer as a gift and not expect anything in return.