12 Restaurant, Bar Openings, Closings For 2021 Near Joliet

JOLIET, IL — Here's a look back at the Joliet area bars and restaurants we've said goodbye to in 2021 and a look at several of the new restaurants we're just getting to know as 2021 draws to a close.

The following list includes several of Joliet Patch's most popular reads during the past year and ones that drew a ton of reader reaction. Toward the bottom of this article, you'll see there's a mention of one Joliet restaurant that isn't even opened yet.

Why did that story make this list?

The answer is obvious. When that particular restaurant opens, the line for customers waiting to get inside the place may very well stretch from Joliet all the way to Indiana or Kentucky.

In no particular order, here's a dozen noteworthy Joliet Patch stories from the past year:

1. Chicken-N-Spice Farewell: Senator Connor Presents Award

After 42 years running the restaurant on downtown Joliet's North Chicago Street, Ken and Pat Reimer are retiring. Their farewell party for the community began at 1:30 p.m. As a large crowd of people gathered around the dining room of the restaurant, State Senator John Connor stood near the front counter, presenting the Reimers with a state recognition award.

2. Barolo Restaurant Owners Move On, Sell Business

On Sept. 20, Guy and Melissa Turi announced that they had sold their business of 20 years, Joliet's Barolo Restaurant at 2765 Black Road. "It's time for our next chapter. We are excited and blessed! Thanks for the memories. Our staff is family, special thanks to each of them for their love and service," the Turis posted on Facebook.

On Sept. 30, Joliet Patch reported that Mariscos El Vallartazo, a West Chicago Mexican seafood restaurant that features regular live entertainment, confirmed it is expanding into Joliet, replacing Barolo's Restaurant on Black Road.

As 2021 draws to a close, Mariscos El Vallartazo has yet to open.

3. O'Charley's Irish Pub Announces It's Closing

O'Charley's Irish Pub has been at the corner of North Center and Oneida streets since 1988, but Aug. 17 marked its end at 117 North Center St. "With a very heavy heart.... O'Charley's will close its doors for the final time tonight," Kathy Charley wrote in a statement furnished to Joliet Patch.

On Nov. 3, Patch reported that less than three months after the O'Charleys Irish Pub closed for good, the owners of Crybabies Tap are taking it over. The Joliet City Council unanimously approved the liquor license transfer to Karen Talmadge, owner of Crybabies Tap on Joliet's east side, at 435 East Jackson St.

4. Louis' Family Restaurant Owner Retires After Nearly 30 Years

Nov. 28 marked the end of an era, the final day of business for Louis Polimenakos who opened his Louis' Family Restaurant at 1001 West Jefferson St. on Dec. 18, 1992. "This place was a big success," he said. In the 1970s, Polimenakos came to the United States from Athens, Greece, on a student visa.

Then, on Dec. 7, the two sons of Louis Polimenakos, Mike and Nick, opened Louie's Waffle House at the site of the former Bob Evans Family Restaurant at the corner of Larkin Avenue and McDonough Street. "We're just excited to have an actual nice place, and we're going to make it as nice as possible," Michael Polimenakos told Joliet Patch's editor.

5. Long John Silver's Shuts Down Joliet Restaurant Forever

Joliet's Long John Silver's at 2421 West Jefferson St. has gone out of business, leaving the city with no Long John Silver's fast-food restaurants. Area residents will now have to drive to Downers Grove, Morris, Matteson, Ottawa — or even Gary, Indiana, to get your Long John Silver's fix.

6. Joliet IHOP Flattened By Milburn Demolition: Photo Gallery

Less than two months after Joliet Patch broke the news that the IHOP restaurant on Larkin Avenue had closed, all that's left of the building was the front entrance. Demolition crews leveled the former IHOP to make way for the first Portillo's Pickup restaurant in Illinois.

Joliet will become the first Portillo's in Illinois to have a triple drive-thru lane. Portillo's wants to be open in early February, according to Preston Funkhouser, vice president of construction and facilities for Portillo's "We could probably open mid-January, but we want to give ourselves enough time to train the staff," Funkhouser told Joliet Patch in October.

7. Goodbye Diamand's Family Restaurant, Hello Raising Cane's

In late July, Alpine Demolition Services had torn down most of the walls for the Diamand's Family Restaurant along Plainfield Road near the Louis Joliet Mall. Back in February, Joliet Patch broke the news that a Raising Cane's chicken fingers restaurant would be built on the site. In late November, Patch also broke the news that Raising Cane's plans to tear down an empty bank in Shorewood along the Route 59 corridor, meaning that a second Joliet area fast-food restaurant may open during 2022.

8. Juliet's Tavern Acquired, CUT 158 Expanding

Joliet restaurateur Bill Dimitroulas made another big acquisition this year. In March, the owner of Joliet's CUT 158 Chophouse, Hamburgerseria and the Rosemary Cafe announced that he has acquired Juliet's Tavern located at 205 North Chicago St. But that wasn't Dimitroulas' only big news in 2021. Sometime in February 2022, CUT 158 expects to occupy the new restaurant space at 116 North Chicago St., which is right next door to Joliet's world-famous Rialto Square Theatre.

9. Mauve Opens: 'It Feels So Good To Be Back In Our Element'

Months and months of renovations to a former yoga studio are over. In September, Mauve Nosh & Libations opened in Shorewood. It's a crafted cocktail, wine and small plate bar owned by Nick Pena and Kala Bieniek Saunders.

Mauve features more than 40 wine varieties. Several of the wines are from Oregon, Washington and California. A number of wines come from Spain and Italy. Mauve also has more than 30 varieties of crafted cocktails and different bourbons.

10. Olive Garden Plans Joliet Restaurant Opening In 2022

Nov. 8, 2021, is a day that tens of thousands of people in the Joliet area will remember for one thing: that was the day when news of Olive Garden's plans to build in Joliet were unveiled. The new Olive Garden plans to be open in 2022, city of Joliet officials told Patch. This becomes the second major development at The Boulevard. Last November, the Costco store opened.

"I'm happy to hear this announcement today," Joliet's two-term Mayor Bob O'Dekirk told Joliet Patch. "This project has been pursued by the city and past mayors, and I am glad to have played a role in bringing Olive Garden to Joliet."

11. Joey's Red Hots Opens: Draws 250 Lunch Customers

The Joey's Red Hots opened Sept. 20 in Crest Hill and people across the Joliet area were flocking here for lunch. "It was great. We had 250 customers come through for lunch," remarked Joey's owner Anthony Nardo. "I'm looking forward to the dinner rush."

The new Crest Hill Joey's Red Hots is at 2228 Plainfield Road. There are also Joey's Red Hots in Chicago's Morgan Park area, New Lenox and Orland Park.

12. Chick-fil-A Joliet Opens: 'We Are Excited To Serve This Area'

The days of asking whether Joliet will ever get a Chick-fil-A restaurant are over. At 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 14, about 50 cars were lined around the perimeter of 2705 Plainfield Road. They were waiting to place their order at the new Joliet Chick-fil-A.

Around 8 a.m., new Joliet City Manager Jim Capparelli, Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and a few city staff showed up at the new Chick-fil-A.

"I keep saying, even during the pandemic, the city of Joliet keeps moving forward," O'Dekirk remarked at the grand opening. "This is a great location for Chick-fil-A. We've got a new Costco up the road, the new Binny's, even though there's been a couple of stores closing at the Louis Mall, new businesses keep coming in and replacing them."

There's More: Joliet's 2021 In Review: 1 Photo From Every Month