CUT 158 New Restaurant: 'This Is a Game Changer For Downtown Joliet'

JOLIET, IL — What was the reaction from Wednesday night's soft opening for the new and more spacious location for Joliet's new CUT 158 Chophouse? This is definitely a game changer for downtown Joliet, remarked Ron Romero, founder of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum, which is planning to open this year as well.

Several hundred people attended Wednesday night's gala hosted by CUT 158 Chophouse owner Bill Dimitroulas at the new restaurant, 110 N. Chicago St., right next to the historic Rialto Square Theatre.

After many months of extensive remodeling work, CUT 158 has quadrupled its space, vacating its previous location at 158 North Chicago St. to move a block down the street into the Two Rialto Square Building, now owned by John Bays.

Bays was on hand for Wednesday night's festivities as well. The crowd also included Joliet City Manager Jim Capparelli and former city manager Marty Shanahan, who now works for Aurora as the city's chief community services officer.

Shanahan led Joliet City Hall when Bays purchased the Two Rialto Square Building in late 2018. At that time, the six-story building was falling apart. The water pipes burst in the building burst twice that summer, flooding the offices and destroying the furniture of several law firms and businesses that leased space in the building.

Bays has converted the top two floors into luxury apartments. He has several professional office tenants including the Joliet Chamber of Commerce, the Will County Regional Superintendent of Schools and now the city of Joliet's public utilities' office.

But the greatest treasure within the building was unveiled Wednesday for the first time: CUT 158 Chophouse, bigger than ever, with a seating capacity of 240 guests. The new CUT 158 features three levels. The lower level can serve as a private banquet room for guests.

"It's a great turnout, the food was phenomenal, a beautiful restaurant," remarked Garland Mays as he sat with fellow members of the African American Business Association. "The restaurant expansion for downtown Joliet, it's great. "

Mays told Joliet Patch that the oysters were one of his favorites of the night. "I loved the oysters and the wild boar," Mays said. "I don't think that chef doing their cooking makes anything that isn't great."

Joining Shanahan at the CUT 158 event was Kendall County Board Republican Scott Gryder who is running for Congress in the 14th District. If he wins his GOP primary, Gryder aims to defeat Democrat incumbent Lauren Underwood in November's general election.

For Shanahan, Wednesday night was a great moment to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of John Bays as he redeveloped the Two Rialto Square Building from when he bought it slightly over three years ago.

"Oh, my God, this place is amazing," Shanahan told Joliet Patch, referring to CUT 158. "Three years ago, Mr. Bays gave me a tour of this place and shared his vision of what it could be."

How would Shanahan sum up his reaction to Wednesday night's soft opening of the new and expanded CUT 158 Chophouse?

"I'm happy to see that I think he exceeded everyone's expectations more than I expected," Shanahan said of Bays. "This is a huge addition. It's five-star dining."

Shanahan praised CUT 158 owner Bill Dimitroulas, who also owns the Juliet's restaurant a block up the street, as well as Hamburgerseria and Rosemary Cafe, both on Joliet's Essington Road.

"Not only is the place amazing, the food is second to none," Shanahan said of CUT 158. "Bill Dimitroulas knows how to impress. His location should be a destination for Joliet and the surrounding area who want a fantastic meal in a top-notch restaurant."

Capparelli, who took over Joliet's City Hall in January 2021, said that CUT 158 already had a great reputation for elegant dining at 158 N. Chicago St. The new location will certainly be a main draw for Joliet's downtown, he predicted.

"The food, as always, is delicious," Capparelli said. "We're excited to have them move, it's because they outgrew their old space. For Joliet's downtown, it's really turning into the place to be."

Dimitroulas told Joliet Patch that CUT 158 is now open at its new restaurant starting Thursday, March 31.

It's open 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. It's closed Sunday and Monday. The new restaurant phone is 815-630-4219. For more, visit the CUT 158 website.