John Bays Unveils Luxury Living In Downtown Joliet

JOLIET, IL — Last month marked a tremendous milestone for the success of Joliet's downtown. Bill Dimitroulas opened his newly expanded CUT 158 Chophouse in the John Bays Two Rialto Square Building. But that's just one slice of the story.

Despite hardly any advertising efforts, Bays told Joliet Patch during Thursday's interview that he now has 16 of his new luxury apartments leased on the fifth and sixth floors of the building, 116 North Chicago St.

Bays remodeled the top two floors of his Two Rialto Square Building over the past couple years. He added 10 apartment units for the fifth floor and another 10 units on the sixth floor.

"I have 16 rented out. I could fill them up in one day, but I wanted to keep a couple open to show," Bays remarked.

One of Joliet's most high-profile public officials is one of the newest tenants.

New Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans has been living in the Two Rialto Square Building for the past month, Evans told Joliet Patch.

During Thursday's interview, Evans said that several people are becoming familiar with seeing him and his dog, which is an 85 lb boxer that Evans takes for lots of walks around the downtown.

Evans moved to Joliet from Chicago after taking over the Joliet Police Department in March.

"It's a great building, and he's furnished a lot with it," Evans said of Bays. "He didn't get below grade appliances. It's really clean, and quiet."

Patch asked if Evans would recommend the loft apartment units inside Two Rialto Square Building to other working professionals looking for a new place to live.

"Absolutely," the police chief replied. "It's really perfect for me and my dog."

Bays said his extensively remodeled Two Rialto Square Building, which is right next door to the historic Rialto Square Theatre, is geared for Joliet's working professionals.

In addition to the chief of police, Bays said he has several lawyers, business owners and critical care nurses who are already living here.

Bays said he just added two new tenants over the past couple days, leaving him with only four vacancies. The loft apartments are one and two bedroom units.

"And they come with free parking," said Bays, who took over ownership of the city of Joliet's Scott Street Parking Deck last summer.

Bays said his monthly apartment leases range from $1,400 to $2,200, but "all the two-bedroom units are leased.

"They're nice. They've got everything, and you can get them completely furnished," Bays said.

Having the newly expanded CUT 158 Chophouse open on the main floor has been tremendous so far, Bays said. CUT 158 opened March 30, and the place can accommodate 240 guests.

Bays said he has recently hosted a couple of different groups of out of town medical professionals and business people, and they raved about the restaurant.

"That place has been fabulous," Bays said.

One of his recent guests at the 158 Chophouse told him the new Joliet restaurant is even better than Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Chicago, Bays said.