'John Bays Brings Joliet The Taj Mahal. This Is Taj Mahal': Petrakos

JOLIET, IL — A year ago this time, the empty Aaron's Furniture building at 1416 West Jefferson St. was in pathetic shape. A homeless woman pitched her tent in the crumbling front parking lot. On Saturday night, the magic happens inside Joliet's brand new Royal Palace Event Centre, all thanks to the efforts of Joliet's most prolific businessman, John Bays.

"It is the best venue around," exclaimed Royal Palace owner Phil Petrakos, of Joliet.

The 11,000-square-foot banquet hall features two separate banquet rooms that can accommodate 2oo guests each, or, the two can be combined for one giant banquet event.

There's also a third, smaller room, that can accommodate up to 100 guests.

On Sept. 24, 2021, Joliet Patch published this exclusive article, headlined, "John Bays Buys Dumpy Aaron's Property On Jefferson."

Petrakos, also owner of The Crystal Room in downtown Joliet as well as the Phil's Corner bar at Theodore and Raynor, will operate the Royal Palace. He has partnered with Bays on a number of business ventures across Joliet.

"I just like taking old things and making them nice," Bays remarked Saturday. "I think the people of Joliet are going to like it, and Phil does a good job. I think he'll do very, very, well here."

"John Bays did a wonderful job being here on Jefferson Street. This is the Taj Mahal of Joliet. This is the Taj Mahal for Joliet," Petrakos repeatedly told Joliet Patch's editor during Saturday's interview inside his new Royal Palace. "If it wasn't for Mr. Bays, you and I both know what Joliet would be," Petrakos continued.

Patch asked Petrakos why his new banquet hall sign is spelled C-E-N-T-R-E instead of the traditional way: center.

"This is the Royal Palace Event Centre," he proclaimed. "It's more classy. Everything is brand new."

Joliet's Royal Palace features eight giant chandeliers and three more chandeliers in the entrance lobby. The building's entrance is not off West Jefferson Street.

Rather, it's behind the building.

Petrakos said guests can rent out the Royal Palace Event Centre for seven-hour allotments and get up to four hours for set up.

"We have different packages, and we give them one hour during dinner of draft beer, pop and water included with the package," Petrakos explained. "You get seven hours for the events, we give you four hours to set up everything, and we do the cleaning."

The parking lot is in back of the building and can easily accommodate more than 100 cars.

"We've got plenty of parking, and it's lighted," Petrakos stressed.

Petrakos said Royal Palace furnishes all the bartenders and security staff. There will always be a visible security presence on the property, he noted.

On Saturday night, Royal Palace has two separate large scale events taking place.

One is a 60th birthday party for a woman named Lillian.

The other event is a Quinceañera for a Joliet girl.

Royal Palace expects to draw much of its business from wedding receptions, bridal showers, birthdays, anniversaries, Quinceañeras and fund-raisers.

Petrakos strongly urged people to book their events for Royal Palace, even ones planned for 2023, "several months in advance.

"Mention that you read about it in the Joliet Patch or by John Ferak and I will give them a deal, a special discount," Petrakos proclaimed.

To book Royal Palace Event Centre in Joliet, the business phone is 630-418-6300.