'It Is With Regret I Announce The Permanent Closure Of The Grill At The Office': Miguel Villarreal Reveals

JOLIET, IL — Miguel Villarreal, the Joliet restaurant owner of Jody's Hot Dogs along Republic Avenue and The Grill at Fritz's Pour House on Plainfield Road, has decided to pull the plug on his first Channahon restaurant endeavor, which he called The Grill at The Office.

The Grill At The Office opened in October 2024.

In Sunday afternoon's Facebook announcement, Villarreal informed everyone, "it is with regret that I announce the permanent closure of The Grill At The Office. I extend my sincerest apologies to our community, staff and anyone who may feel impacted by this decision.

"The choice to close was not made lightly, but managing three restaurants has proven to be a significant undertaking. Honestly, it's been taking a considerable toll on my mental and emotional well-being," Villarreal shared.

"Given the circumstances, I've made the decision to prioritize my own needs. I anticipate numerous questions and will do my best to address them, particularly regarding gift cards and credits, which will be accepted at either of our remaining restaurants Jody's Hot Dogs and The Grill At Fritz's Pour House."

Back in 2024, Joliet Patch produced a number of stories on the opening of Villarreal's new Channahon restaurant endeavor, reporting that a Mississippi pot roast dinner was less than $20. A pork tenderloin dinner was $15. Grilled Grecian style pork chops with a side was $15. A 10-ounce rib eye steak dinner with two sides was $25. Or, for less than $30, customers could get the Surf & Turf — 10 ounce rib eye, four shrimps and two sides.

With business flourishing the past few years at The Grill at Fritz's Pour House, Joliet restaurateur Miguel "Mike" Villarreal took a leap of faith this fall by adding another location. In Channahon, he opened The Grill At The Office in October.

The Grill At The Office is at 25520 Pheasant Lane, near the busy intersection of Route 6 and Ridge Road, near the boundary lines for Channahon and Minooka.

Villarreal's Channahon restaurant offered some foods and specials you would not find in Joliet, and vice versa. And the atmosphere was different in Channahon. Fritz's Pour House on Joliet's Plainfield Road has a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

The Grill At The Office had a dining room so big that it features two pool tables and a couple of dart boards "and plenty of gaming," Villarreal noted.

Villarreal said he's found many of his customers visiting his Channahon restaurant had previously dined at his Joliet restaurant.

"We do have different draws for both restaurants," remarked Bradley Skoczylas, executive chef. "The specials and staples in Joliet have become more and more a part of our regular menus over here. Eventually, we will get into destination recipes over here, and there will be some things you can get over here and some things only over there.

"We do sell a lot of burgers as well, and a lot of Philly steak (sandwiches) here too."