Amigeaux's Renovation Of Arby's Hits Home Stretch

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet City Council is expected to vote at Tuesday night's meeting whether to approve a drive-thru permit and a Class B liquor license for the first Amigeaux's Sophisticated Street Food restaurants. The new restaurant concept is being tried in Joliet by the owners of several Arby's restaurants.

The Joliet Arby's at 2307 West Jefferson St. has remained closed since January 2020.

Amigeaux's (pronounced like amigos) will have a dozen varieties of tacos and eight different sandwiches on the menu. There will be the drive-thru window, indoor dining and carryout, according to John Thompson, one of the three operators with the Louisiana-based Miracle Restaurant Group.

Thompson and one of his business partners, Colton Trimmer, have been in Joliet the past few months making interior renovations to their Arby's building, which is next to the Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen.

During Friday's interview, Thompson and Trimmer told Joliet Patch they have a tentative date for the opening of Amigeaux's.

"June 21st," Thompson said. "That's tentative."

The owners of Joliet's first Amigeaux's restaurant franchise told Patch that they will be hosting a job fair at their West Jefferson Street restaurant from June 1-11. They are looking to hire at least 40 employees.

"We'll be filling all positions, and we're offering top-dollar prices," Thompson said. "We're really motivated to start hiring people with our management staff.

"This (location in Joliet) is kind of the ground floor. We are looking for people who want to grow with the company."

Thompson and Trimmer also wanted people to know that they will be repaving the former Arby's parking lot.

"We are re-doing the entire parking lot," Thompson said.

In March, Thompson told Patch the Amigeaux's restaurant will be nothing at all like an Arby's. He described it as being Southern California cuisine meeting Tex-Mex meeting Southern Cajun electric blend.

Thompson's Miracle Restaurant Group operates about 30 Arby's restaurants across several states plus the soon-to-be opening of the Amigeaux's in Joliet.

"It's not anything at all near an Arby's," he repeated during Friday's interview. "Our focus will be on specialty tacos and sandwiches."

Customers will order their meals at the counter, and the food will be made fresh and served quickly, Thompson said.

"It's quick service. We'll get you in and out," Trimmer added.

As for the Class B liquor license that goes before the Joliet City Council, the owners of Amigeaux's want to sell draft beers, Daiquiris and frozen Margaritas for their indoor dining guests who are at least 21 years old.

After spending several months staying in Joliet, Thompson and Trimmer told Joliet Patch on Friday that they are impressed with the city, particularly with the revitalization along West Jefferson Street. That other people are opening restaurants and new businesses along the corridor is great for everyone, they said.

To read Joliet Patch's March article announcing the plans for the Amigeaux's restaurant go here.