Cheesecakes By James Replacing Gji's Sweet Shoppe

JOLIET, IL — November is here and Joliet entrepreneur James Sankey is hard at work. He's reopening his dessert business, Cheesecake By James, back in downtown Joliet. He's filling the storefront formerly occupied by Gji's Sweet Shoppe. It's a prime location at 81 North Chicago St., right across from the Rialto Square Theatre.

Sankey tells Joliet Patch he wants to have the storefront open for business by Friday, Nov. 29. That way, he can capitalize on the influx of traffic coming to the many concerts and shows at the Rialto. Why is the date Nov. 29 so important?

For Joliet, the day after Thanksgiving marks the city's annual Christmas tradition, Light Up The Holidays Parade and Festival. The Christmas tree-lighting event at Van Buren Plaza will occur just a few steps outside the front entrance of Cheesecakes by James.

The parade typically attracts more than 10,000 people downtown. People probably in the mood to consume hot coffee and an assortment of cheesecakes, Sankey realizes.

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Besides offering 16 kinds of cheesecakes, Sankey said Cheesecakes By James will be offering a large variety of specialty coffees, along with salads, sandwiches and soups. He's been working on the interior renovations during these past few months. Gji's closed in June.

"This location is great, it's sweet," Sankey said. "And being the only cheesecake place in Joliet, I want to feed the people as far as giving them other options for lunch time."

From 2013 until 2018, Sankey used to operate Cheesecake By James in a storefront along a busy, one-way stretch of Cass Street. Now, he's ready to make his return to downtown Joliet. He signed a five-year lease on the former Gji's property, he noted.

For him, the resurgence of the Rialto serves as a great motivation tool. He also wants to take advantage of the city's many downtown community festivals in the nearby city plaza.

RELATED: Rialto 'Crazy Busy' For November, December

Cheesecake By James plans to be open from around 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and it will stay open later on nights of Rialto performances and downtown festivals, Sankey added.

Looking ahead to 2020, Sankey wants to make a big splash. He intends to host a downtown cheesecake festival next summer at the city's plaza right outside his entrance.

Why is Sankey returning to downtown Joliet?

"This is where I found my calling, and I've always believed in myself," Sankey told Joliet Patch this week. "I knew I had to comeback.

But, Sankey stressed, Cheesecake By James will be far more diversified at its new, more visible site.

"We'll have a coffee bar, soups and salads, sandwiches and the cheesecakes," he said.

Ah, yes, the cheesecakes, 16 different varieties of cheesecakes.

One last thing: Sankey told Patch his cake-making business is already taking pre-orders on cheesecakes with the holidays quickly approaching.

To make a pre-order, call 815-582-4151.