Restaurants & Bars
Portillo's To Expand Into Joliet With Triple Drive-Thru
In 1963, Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a small trailer to open the first Portillo's hot dog stand in Villa Park, the restaurant states.
JOLIET, IL —In January, Joliet welcomed its first Chick-fil-A restaurant. In February, plans for a Raising Cane's were approved at the empty Diamand's restaurant on Plainfield Road. What's next for Joliet? How about a Portillo's restaurant along the busy Larkin Avenue corridor?
Portillo's announced on Wednesday that it plans to open its first Joliet restaurant — it will be a triple drive-thru called Portillo's Pick Up — at the site of the empty IHOP restaurant, 1444 North Larkin Avenue.
On June 21, Joliet Patch broke the news that the IHOP closed.
Find out what's happening in Jolietfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"We're very excited to have this project coming to Joliet and the North Ridge Plaza," city of Joliet economic development director Derek Conley wrote Joliet Patch. "It's going to bring more energy to the center and support the surrounding businesses."
Portillo's said it plans to be open in time for this winter. The company issued the following news release, remarking that "This new restaurant is unlike anything Portillo's has ever done."
Find out what's happening in Jolietfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Portillo’s is a popular regional eatery that I am proud to welcome to Joliet,” said Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk in Wednesday's news release. “This new restaurant concept combined with the popularity of Portillo’s is a promising addition to the North Ridge Plaza shopping center. This is another outstanding development for Joliet and its residents.”
To help launch the new restaurant, Portillo’s said it has designed a limited-edition t-shirt for this location.
Guests are invited to sign up for Portillo’s Birthday Club to receive one of these shirts on opening day, while supplies last. Fans who sign up also receive a slice of Portillo’s homemade chocolate cake on their birthday.
Fans are also invited to register for a chance to attend a sneak peek training meal prior to opening and receive updates on the Portillo’s Joliet location by signing up here.
According to the Portillo's website, there are existing restaurants in the following Illinois communities:
- Bloomingdale
- Bolingbrook
- Champaign
- Chicago, 3 locations
- Crestwood
- Crystal Lake
- Deerfield
- Downers Grove
- Elgin
- Elk Grove Village
- Elmhurst
- Forest Park
- Glendale Heights
- Gurnee
- Harwood Heights
- Homewood
- Naperville, 2 locations
- New Lenox
- Niles
- Normal
- Northlake
- Oak Lawn
- Oswego
- Peoria
- Rockford
- Rolling Meadows
- Schaumburg
- Shorewood
- Skokie
- Springfield
- St. Charles
- Streamwood
- Summit
- Sycamore
- Tinley Park
- Vernon Hills
- Villa Park
- Willowbrook
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