The Crystal Room: Joliet Patch Gets A Look Inside

JOLIET, IL — A new and somewhat unexpected business sign in Joliet's downtown has been generating a lot of buzz of late.

The Crystal Room: Experience Joliet's Finest Venue. The sign's displayed on Cass Street across the street from the Harrah's Casino & Hotel parking deck. On Wednesday afternoon, Joliet Patch met with the The Crystal Room's owner, Phil Petrakos.

The banquet hall is in the lower level of John Bays' Catholic Charities Building, at the corner Ottawa and Cass Streets. Petrakos told Patch he has submitted his application to the city of Joliet for a liquor license and hopes to open once his license is approved by the state of Illinois.

What can be said about The Crystal Room? It has a lot of crystal lighting fixtures, that's for sure.

"Mr. Bays did everything," Petrakos told Patch. "I'm friends with Mr. Bays, and he was telling me about (the property.) Mr. Bays is a very good man. God bless him. He works very hard seven days a week."

If things goes according to plan, The Crystal Room should be open to host banquet events by late March, Petrakos suggested.

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The Crystal Room aims to accommodate smaller wedding receptions, Chamber of Commerce luncheons, funeral luncheons, Rotary Club meetings, anniversary dinners, birthday parties, baby showers, high school and college alumni receptions.

"The food gets catered," Petrakos said. "They can bring it in."

For instance, if the host wants to serve Harolds Shrimp & Chicken, which is located on the building's first floor, or use the elegant CUT 158 Chophouse a couple blocks away on North Chicago Street, that can be arranged, Petrakos said.

"We are here to accommodate the people," Petrakos said. "Always, they will see an owner here."

The Crystal Room has a large parking lot off North Joliet Street, WiFi access, elevators and it's ADA accessible, he said. It's designed to serve crowds of roughly 100 people.

Patch asked Petrakos why he picked the Catholic Charities building, 203 North Ottawa St., for his business venture.

"We want to build up the downtown and accommodate our people here in Joliet and the surrounding areas," he responded.

People who are interested in booking The Crystal Room for an event this year can call the number on the business sign: 779-236-7289, Petrakos said.

People can also call that number to arrange for a personal tour of the banquet facility.

Petrakos said that since his business sign went up, he's already fielded several calls. "There's people calling now to see the room," he said Wednesday afternoon.

He emphasized, however, that he is still putting the final touches on the property. "There will be tablecloths and chair covers and there will be security for the events," he said.

For nighttime events, Petrakos said, he plans to have two security guards on duty. Foremost, he wants his place to live up to its bold slogan on the sign displayed on Cass Street.

"Experience Joliet's finest venue," he said.