Restaurateur and founder of the Six dies at 53

Restaurateur Will Karges, who co-founded popular L.A. beer-and-burger chain The Six, died at the age of 53.

Catering to “the hip and hungry,” as a 1998 L.A. Times profile described him, Karges was a mainstay in the L.A. food scene.

On top of the Six in West L.A. and the Valley, he played a role in the Italian mainstay Jones Hollywood and owned the breakfast joint Blueberr and the supper club Rix.

Karges’ father was the man behind the upscale West Coast franchise Johnie’s New York Pizzeria. Staying in his father’s industry, Karges branched out with his own portfolio of eateries in L.A.

“Will was a true foodie but what made him truly special was his persona, everyone loved his presence [and] his passion,” his business partner Jake King, who co-owned the Six, told L.A. Eater. “He taught me you can make a living doing what you love.” — [L.A. Eater] — Cathaleen Chen