Louis' Reopens Dining Room After 16-Month Pandemic Shutdown

JOLIET, IL — Monday marked the most drastic change at Louis' Family Restaurant since the March 2020 coronavirus pandemic negatively affected Illinois and the food and beverage industry. For the first time in 16 months, Louis' reopened its dining rooms for walk-in customers on Joliet's West Jefferson Street.

The restaurant has been in existence since December 1992.

When the place opened at 6 a.m., there were five people waiting to get tables, remarked the owner's son, Michael Polimenakos.

"It's been good. It's been good," he repeated. "A lot of people are coming in, and the phone's been going off."

Sunday marked the last day that Louis' ran its temporary drive-thru service, which was promoted as "Joliet's Fastest Drive Thru."

"Yesterday was good, too," Michael Polimenkos told Joliet Patch. "It was the best day we had in our drive-thru."

On Monday morning, for the first day of being re-opened, Louis' Family Restaurant had six servers on duty.

Still, a lot of customers were coming inside to place a carryout order or to pick-up takeout food, Michael Polimenkos said.

The most popular item on the menu Monday was "our big breakfast," the owner's son said.

"The to-go orders didn't just stop because we're on the inside," Michael Polimenkos said. "My dad thought these were inside customers just eating in the drive-thru, but many of the people entering indoors today are like new people. It's like two different clienteles."

Customers who prefer carryout are strongly encouraged to continue to do that, the owner's son said.

"Today is going well," Michael Polimenkos said. "Usually, after a holiday, it is slow."

Louis' Family Restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week.

As for staff, Louis' Family Restaurant still has a few job openings for servers, cooks and "experienced bus boys," Michael Polimenkos said.

What's next for Louis' Family Restaurant?

"We're going to get a new menu soon," the owner's son said.