Bays Revitalizes Catholic Charities Building

JOLIET, IL - Since he acquired the property in 2016, John Bays has had his sights set on turning the Catholic Charities property at Cass and Ottawa Streets into one of the downtown's signature buildings. Bays wants to see more companies putting their offices in downtown Joliet. Bays also believes it's important to lure more of Joliet's west side residents to eat downtown on the weekends.

This month, Bays' multi-faceted plans for his Catholic Charities property are starting to take shape. Illinois Marine Towing (IMT), a full-service marine transportation company on the upper Illinois River, is moving its corporate headquarters from Lemont to downtown Joliet, 203 N. Ottawa St. The company will occupy the second floor of the Catholic Charities building, Bays told Joliet Patch during a sit-down interview Monday afternoon. Illinois Marine Towing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canal Barge Inc., a privately owned marine transportation company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana.

"I'm bringing in some good people downtown," Bays told Joliet Patch on Monday. "This is a very big company."

Bays told Joliet's City Council several months ago that he saw great potential for the Catholic Charities building. Illinois Marine Towing will occupy the second floor. The main level will be subdivided and occupied by two restaurants, Bays anticipates.

The lower level will serve as a banquet room for corporate outings and wedding receptions, Bays said.

As for his current second-floor tenant, Bays said that Catholic Charities, which has been in the midst of a downsizing, will move into another of his downtown buildings. That will be happen by June 3, Bays said.

Illinois Marine will move into the Catholic Charities by early September, he said. As a result, Bays said he is expediting his plans to open the two new restaurants on the main level, which consists of 10,000 square feet of space that will be divided roughly in half.

"This has got to be first class, and it's going to be first class," Bays assured Joliet Patch on Monday.

Bays said he wants to have the new restaurants ready to open to coincide with Illinois Marine Towing's move into the upper floor of his building this Fall.

Bays said he is currently in negotiations with an Italian restaurant chain but he is not sure whether that company is ready to commit now. "If they don't commit in two weeks, it will be a steak and chophouse," he said.

Besides the chophouse restaurant, Bays said, the other half of the main level will likely feature a breakfast and lunch diner. Bays said he has someone in Orland Park who wants to expand into Joliet.

Bays owns multiple professional offices across Joliet including several downtown including the Pioneer Building, the Bays Professional Centre, Executive Centre, the First Midwest Building and the State of Illinois Building.

Bays told Patch he realizes there are skeptics who question the idea of investing in downtown Joliet. But there are many signs that the downtown is on the upswing and great things are ahead.

Among them, MyGrain Brewing Company has been a success since opening last fall at the historic Union Station. The Forge, operating in the Bays Professional Centre, has invigorated downtown's nightlife scene with its popular live music bands.

Additionally, Joliet Junior College and the University of St. Francis both have a strong downtown campus presence. Hundreds of college students are downtown for classes on any given day.

Meanwhile, construction of the new $215 million Will County Courthouse, a mammoth 10-story glass structure, is well underway.

"I'm upgrading all my downtown buildings right now," Bays said Monday. "I like this mayor. He is trying to make the town successful."

Bays said he has been extremely cautious about selecting the right entrepreneurs to open a restaurant within his Catholic Charities building because it is vital that the restaurant draw people from Joliet's west side.

"I don't fail at anything," Bays stressed. "I've just got to have the right operator ... That food has got to be unbelievable ... and the prices real reasonable.

"We need something good downtown. We need something fresh and beautiful," Bays added.

RECENT PATCH COVERAGE OF JOHN BAYS:

Bays Pitches $4 Million Upgrade To Catholic Charities Building

Bays Will Get His Fancy Downtown Restaurant: Ferak Column

Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor