Daily Drink Specials For New Neighborhood Bar In Joliet

JOLIET, IL — Joliet businessman Phil Petrakos has opened his new neighborhood bar near St. Joe's Park at the corner of Raynor Avenue and Theodore Street. After months of renovations, Phil's Corner opened at 1527 Raynor Ave. on Monday.

Petrakos told Joliet Patch that he is a big proponent of Joliet's neighborhood bar scene. One of the great things about Phil's Corner is that many of the guests can walk to it, he said.

Phil's Corner will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and open to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Petrakos redid the entire inside of the bar, replacing the old wooden floors and the old brick drywall. He remodeled the bathrooms and added new toilets. He also added a fireplace with marble tile toward the front of the bar along Raynor.

"It's clean, and it smells clean," he stressed. "We got new furniture and a new look."

Phil's Corner also added new TVs and a jukebox. Before opening Phi's Corner, the property had been empty. It was previously known as One More Time Sports Bar, when it was owned by Brian Wielgus.

Phil's Corner will also be adding karaoke and live bands for entertainment.

Petrakos estimated they spent at least $35,000 with the interior remodeling.

"It's clean, and it smells clean," he stressed. "We got new furniture and a new look."

Phil's Corner has added several new TV screens and a jukebox.

Before opening Phil’s Corner this week, the property had been empty. It was previously known as One More Time Sports Bar, when it was owned by Brian Wielgus.

Why did Petrakos decide to open a new Joliet bar at 1527 North Raynor?

"It's a nice corner, a busy corner," Petrakos said. "It's a neighborhood and friends bar. A lot of traffic at this corner. The music is not going to be loud. It's a place to meet friends."

A friendly neighborhood bar, that's the image Petrakos wants to create at Phil's Corner.

"If they come in looking for trouble," Petrakos said, "this ain't the place to be."

Starting the week of Memorial Day, Phil's Corner will have frozen pizzas that are distributed by East Side Cafe, a popular pizza brand used by several Chicagoland bars, Petrakos said.

This week, Phil's Corner is offering $12 domestic beer buckets.

"Starting next week, we will have drink specials daily," he said.

Petrakos also wanted everyone to know he will run as Phil's Corner as a "hands on owner with the owner being here. We're hoping for our video slots in two to three months."