JOLIET, IL — A Joliet restaurant property that has now produced back-to-back failures will be the home of another West Jefferson Street that has decided to move a few blocks up the street. Chicago Business Journal produced a story this week revealing that Tacos El Tio will be relocating from the old Taco Bell and Beef Shack property near Stryker Avenue to the empty Pop's Italian Beef and Sausage restaurant.
Prior to Pop's, this used to be a Boston Market until 2020.
The Chicago Business Journal reported that the empty Pop's has a lot more parking spaces than the current location for Joliet's Tacos El Tio. The Pop's property was sold for $1.7 million, according to Chicago Business Journal.
In February 2025, Joliet Patch reported the empty Pop's restaurant was for sale with an asking price of $2.8 million.
As for Tacos El Tio, they have had a presence in Joliet at 1606 West Jefferson Street since the fall of 2022. "The best tacos in the City of Chicago," the Tacos El Tio website declares. "At Tacos El Tio we have 100 percent Mexican snacks with the authentic seasoning of Mexico City."
According to the business page on Facebook, other Chicago area Tacos El Tio restaurants are on West Grand Avenue in Chicago, on West Belmont Avenue in Chicago, on West North Avenue in Villa Park, on Lake Street in Oak Park and on West Grand Avenue in Bensenville.
The website for Tacos El Tio proclaims "delicious tacos, pambazos, tortas and more."
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Joliet, IL Patch
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