Joliet's Newest Coffee Shop Nears Grand Opening On West Jefferson Street

JOLIET, IL ? The city of Joliet has become a hub of economic redevelopment this year as residents have witnessed multiple construction projects of businesses aimed at selling food and beverages to the community and visitors to Joliet.

This week, as Joliet Patch previously reported, the new Jack in the Box fast-food restaurant opened along Route 59, between Plainfield and Shorewood, at the former Arby's restaurant there. There will also be a second Joliet Jack in the Box that will open, this one on West Jefferson Street, at the former Arby's restaurant that later became a short-lived Amigeaux's restaurant.

In May, Joliet's West Jefferson Street welcomed a second Starbucks coffee shop, the new one built on the ruins of the former empty Bakers Square pie restaurant. Over on Larkin Avenue, a new Chick-fil-A restaurant is being constructed on the site of the former Steak N Shake property.

But there is still more news to report.

If you've driven along West Jefferson Street lately, you've certainly noticed the construction of the new 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee. The drive-up location is being built on the grounds of the vacant Long John Silver's property, at the corner of Barney Drive.

The 7-Brew has not announced its grand opening date yet, but judging by the state of the construction progress, the 7-Brew should be ready to open around September, if not sooner.

What will become Jefferson Street's next major redevelopment? That remains to be seen.

On a positive note for the city, there are very few empty restaurant buildings along Jefferson or Larkin Avenue, but there are still a couple of glaring ones.

The Pop's Italian Beef restaurant near Larkin Avenue and Jefferson Street closed in recent months, and that property is for sale. And more than a mile to the east, Joliet's last remaining sit-down Pizza Hut restaurant, a fixture near Reed Street for over 50 years, abruptly went out of business and the property has remained empty for the past several months.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Long John Silver Property Finds New Tenant In Joliet

Joliet's Pizza Hut On Jefferson St: Has It Closed Forever?

Chick-fil-A Coming To Former Joliet Steak 'n Shake Location