DoorDash Project On West Jefferson Street Falls Apart

JOLIET, IL — John Bays, Joliet's most prolific commercial real estate investor, is now advertising for a prospective tenant to fill one of the remaining vacancies at the former Aaron's Furniture and Appliance building at 1416 West Jefferson St.

The empty space was supposed to become a DoorDash location, but that project has fallen apart. Joliet Patch has learned that DoorDash abandoned its plans to come to Joliet as part of what was supposed to be a major expansion of the company across the country.

In late September, Joliet Patch reported that on the heels of The Royal Palace banquet hall opening earlier this month in the John Bays' redevelopment of the old Aaron's Furniture store, DoorDash Essentials would also be one of the new tenants for John Bays.

Last fall, the Joliet City Council approved a Class C liquor license for DoorDash, at 1418 West Jefferson St. The liquor license is for packaged liquor goods only. City records show that DoorDash will be doing business as Dashmart.

At that time, Bays told Joliet Patch that it's his understanding Joliet would be one of several new test markets that DoorDash is introducing across the country. The test markets will be for the delivery of food and liquor products, among other things, Bays said.

Now, in recent days, Bays has displayed a large window banner in the former property eyed for the DoorDash store.

The sign lets people on Jefferson Street know that 8,000 square feet is available and they should call 815-741-2700 for more details.

For now, the main tenant of Bays' property remains The Royal Palace Event Centre, a new banquet hall operated by Joliet businessman Phil Petrakos that a seating capacity for at least 400 people. It can be used for weddings, birthday parties, retirement parties, fund-raisers and corporate events.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

DoorDash Opening On Jefferson St., Liquor License Approved

Bays: Royal Palace Event Centre Opening At Former Aaron's Store