Sub Dock In Joliet No Longer Exists On West Jefferson Street

JOLIET ? This week marks the first time in more than 40 years that Joliet's Sub Dock fast food restaurant on West Jefferson Street is no longer open. On Saturday, the Sub Dock sign came down, and it was replaced with a new restaurant sign, one for El Primo Mexican Restaurant.

This marks the third restaurant location in the Joliet area for El Primo. In October 2020, El Primo opened in downtown Joliet at the former Stefanich's Restaurant & Lounge, now known as El Primo #1. There is also an El Primo in Crest Hill at the former location of Forza Table & Tap, 1827 Knapp St., now known as El Primo No. 2.

The new El Primo on Joliet's West Jefferson, now known as El Primo No. 3, is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and come next week, the El Primo plans to stay open until midnight everyday.

In the summer of 2022, Joliet Patch reported that many fast-food restaurants don't survive very long without a drive-thru window, but the Joliet Sub Dock had beaten the odds for years.

As many Joliet area residents know, Sub Dock has thrived since Pete Dedetsinas opened his restaurant at 923 W. Jefferson St. in 1984.

After 38 years of running Sub Dock, Dedetsinas practically knew what many of his customers are going to order the second he made eye contact with them as they stepped inside Sub Dock.

Last week, the owners of Sub Dock announced they are putting Sub Dock up for sale.

"We're a family owned business," Pete Dedetsinas told Patch. "Being here since 1984, the customers were family. They weren't even customers. It was just more than a business. This is my home and everyone who walks through the door is my family.

"It's time now to slow down and spend a little time with the grandkids. I'm tired. My body is not the same anymore."