Joliet's 1st Stop Aims To Be Destination Restaurant

JOLIET, IL — At a time when the city of Joliet is seeing more new restaurants open than at any time in recent years, Patrick Fanning wants to see his newly opened Joliet's 1st Stop cafe become a destination stop for people traveling the country along historic Route 66.

The address is 318 South Chicago St. He's about a block up the street from the Milano Bakery. His restaurant is right behind the Ajax Cleaners & Laundry. Joliet's 1st Stop has a large parking lot for customers right off Third Avenue and South Chicago Street.

This was Fanning's first full week of business owning and operating his first Joliet restaurant.

He has 40 years experience in the restaurant industry after growing up in Elwood. He said he's worked at Red Lobster, the former Earl's Cafe on Jefferson Street, Merichka's and most recently at Loco's Mexican Restaurant on Essington Road.

"I'm the owner and the cook," he said. "This has been a dream of mine all my life."

In the summer and fall, Fanning wants to see Joliet's 1st Stop become a regular destination for travelers passing through Joliet as part of their scenic toursof America's iconic Route 66 historic corridor.

His restaurant is right along the route.

"I'm kind of shooting for being a destination point," he told Joliet Patch's editor Thursday.

Joliet's 1st Cafe wants to be known for offering a quality breakfast and "offering something different for lunch," Fanning said. "Breakfast is going to be my thing right now. I specialize in omelettes, biscuits and gravy, and lunchtime we have my Philly sandwiches. We have steak, chicken or pork, with sautéed peppers and onions.

"All the sandwiches are on eight-inch Milano bread," he said.

Fanning believes people will really like his food, if they give Joliet's 1st Stop a chance. "My chicken tenders, I'm making them myself," he said.

He's now open for continuous breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday.

His hours are 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Besides indoor dining, customers can call ahead to order takeout. The restaurant phone is 815-791-9837. "If people want to call in their order for pickups, I will have it ready for them," he said.

Fanning can also do catering.

He said he's hoping to build his customer base from "the working people" of the Joliet area.

That potential customer base would include employees at the Will County Courthouse, corrections officers at the Will County Adult Detention Center just up the street and people who may be on their home from working the third shift.

"And we welcome all Joliet police and city employees," he added.