Bays: Harolds Shrimp & Chicken Opening Soon In Downtown Joliet

JOLIET, IL —By this time next month, residents of Joliet will have a chance to eat at the new Harolds Shrimp & Chicken restaurant that is opening inside downtown's Catholic Charities building owned by John Bays. This week, for the first time, business signs advertising the new downtown restaurant were displayed on the windows.

The owner of the Harolds Shrimp & Chicken in Downers Grove will be expanding his franchise to Joliet, Illinois' third largest city. On Thursday, Bays told Joliet Patch the new restaurant will be open for customers during the first part of January.

The Harolds website proclaims: "The Finest Fried Chicken, Shrimp & Fish in the Chicagoland!"

Bays said the interior renovations to his office building at the corner of Cass and Ottawa Streets to accommodate the addition of Harolds have turned out terrific. He predicted that customers will be impressed, once it opens.

Bays said there's been lots of anticipation in the community for Harold's. The new restaurant is directly across the street from one of the Harrah's Casino parking decks.

Besides Harold's, Bays already has three other professional office tenants inside his three-story building: Catholic Charities, Illinois Marine and Towing, which moved its corporate staff to Joliet in the fall of 2018 and the Will County Center for Economic Development.

Joliet Patch first broke the news of Harolds coming to Joliet in September.