Checkers: Here's Why It's Sure To Get More Business

JOLIET, IL — For five years, the empty Kmart store property and the huge parking lot occupied by dozens of pigeons was one of Joliet's biggest letdowns. But if you've driven past the intersection lately, you've seen the dramatic transformation for yourself.

The giant Tony's Fresh Market sign is now on the building. Tony's is aiming to have its new supermarket open around the Fourth of July. A Planet Fitness health club will also be opening in the former Kmart building in the months ahead.

One of the benefits of seeing the Tony's redevelopment is that other surrounding businesses are likely to reap the benefits.

For the past five years, I've driven past the Checkers Crazy Good Food sign at 1805 W. Jefferson St. and never once tried the food.

The only time I've previously written about Checkers in Joliet was in 2019 when I reported the Checkers on East Cass Street had closed. It's now a Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen restaurant.

While I was out reporting on the new Tony's Fresh Market sign going up last week, I realized I needed lunch. And since the Checkers is within walking distance, I headed over there. I ordered the fry-seasoned chicken tenders meal and went with the buffalo sauce.

I sat outside and ate my meal on one of the benches. The Checkers fries are good and so were the chicken tenders.

For fast food, I was impressed. My meal was fresh, and the employees at the front counter were polite and quick with my order. Apparently, a lot of people eat at the Joliet Checkers. The restaurant shows 449 Google Reviews, averaging 3.8 stars out of 5 stars.

I probably would not have patronized the Checkers if not for the new Tony's Fresh Market. That's because the Checkers, like a lot of buildings along West Jefferson Street, can become a blur when you're driving several miles on Joliet's busiest thoroughfare.

From an economic development standpoint, the addition of Tony's is a tremendous positive for the city, and especially for Joliet's West Jefferson Street. Jefferson Street just added the new Black Eyed Susan off-track betting parlor operated by Club Hawthorne.

Earlier this week, the Jerk Flavors Jamaican Cuisine opened at 1003 West Jefferson Street, and there were lines of people waiting to place their order.

Jefferson Street still has some pockets of blight, but the future looks brighter every day.

And that's good news for many of the existing businesses, including the Checkers.