Chicken-N-Spice Keeps Downtown Joliet Restaurant Going

JOLIET, IL — Downtown Joliet has had its share of ups and downs over the years, but the Chicken-N-Spice restaurant has remained a shining star. Day in, day out, the sit-down restaurant tends to draw hundreds of customers, from all walks of life. But Governor J.B. Pritzker's announcement closing all bars and sit-down restaurants amid concerns of the new coronavirus could be devastating for a locally owned restaurant such as Chicken-N-Spice.

Unlike its second location that opened in Shorewood in 2018, the downtown Joliet restaurant does not feature a drive-thru window. But come Tuesday, you will not find a closed for business sign on the entrance doors for downtown Joliet Chicken-N-Spice.

Not at all.

Store manager Lety Torres told Joliet Patch that Chicken-N-Spice, 251 N. Chicago St., plans to keep its regular business hours and keep all of its employees on the regular schedule.

Chicken-N-Spice is going to try its luck offering its famous chicken chunks and other selections for curbside-only pickup. The north side of the parking lot will be used for customers wanting to pull up and retrieve their prepaid orders.

Torres recommends customers place their orders online at the Chicken-N-Spice website.

"We are asking customers to prepay with a credit card," Torres said.

People can also call ahead with their carryout orders.

Torres told Patch she was not caught off-guard by the governor's decision to shut down all sit-down restaurants and bars for at least two weeks.

"I think fast-food, we've kind of been preparing for this situation forever," she told Joliet Patch Monday.

She said everyone has been working extremely hard to keep the restaurant super clean. "We also had a great review on our recent health department inspection," she said.

Come Tuesday, nothing on Chicken-N-Spice's menu will be any different, she said. Hours of business will stay the same: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

"You just can't hangout here," she said.

Torres also wanted people to know that her restaurant's popular chunks are a great option for anyone stuck at home during the coronavirus outbreak.

"The chunks reheat beautifully, she said.

Chicken-N-Spice's phone number for placing carryout orders is 815-727-1100.

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