Joliet Portillo's Makes History: 1st Triple Drive-Thru Opens

JOLIET, IL — Vice president of restaurant support Michael Portillo drove to Joliet Tuesday morning to mark a milestone event for his popular restaurant franchise. The first Portillo's Pick Up — a triple drive-thru — officially opened at 10:30 a.m. in Joliet at 1444 N. Larkin Ave.

Romeoville resident Frank Ramsey got to ride inside Portillo's classic car as they made history, breaking through a ceremonial banner displayed at the start of the drive-thru and another banner held by the Joliet employees at the food pick up window.

Ramsey won free food for an entire year as part of an online drawing to select the first customer for the new Joliet restaurant. Portillo's also planned to give away 1,000 free T-shirts that read, "Portillo's Joliet" to as many of Tuesday's first day customers as possible.

"Joliet's a great town," Michael Portillo told Joliet Patch. "My dad always has been an innovator and 39 years ago, we opened our first drive-thru, Downers Grove, and here we are."

Joliet marked the 70th Portillo's restaurant for the growing fast-food restaurant business.

Pete Robinson, who lives near DeKalb, drove to Joliet to celebrate the new Portillo's Pick Up. Robinson is one of Portillo's most loyal customers, and he's attended about 50 grand openings over the years. "If you put 45 in there, you're going to be under," Robinson said.

He said he and wife will be flying to Florida in the coming weeks to celebrate the new Portillo's opening in St. Petersburg.

Robinson said he ate Portillo's for the first time in November 1964 and bought it from "Michael's dad." "Two hot dogs and a large pop and tamale for $1.02, and I was digging in my pocket for pennies and Michael's father said, 'I'll pay the tax.' I've been eating here since then."

Robinson told Joliet Patch he does not have a favorite meal at Portillo's.

"Reason being, I eat everything. I recently spent a week in Arizona for vacation, and I ate at Portillo's four times in five days."

Robinson said that people around Sycamore know that they can find him every Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Portillo's restaurant there. "I eat at Portillo's every Sunday," he said.

How will Joliet react to the nation's first triple drive-thru opening in their city?

"I think they're thrilled to death with it," Robinson said. "I think it's the way of the future."

For grand openings, Robinson said he always gets the same meal. "It's a hot dog, no peppers, no relish."

Michael Portillo believes Joliet will be a tremendous location for the Portillo's franchise. The new Joliet restaurant is only for pickup and carryout orders. There is no dining room inside.

"It's another way to get Portillo's," he said. "It's got all the elements we like."

The new Portillo's is in Joliet's North Ridge Plaza. A VASA Fitness Center will be opening in the same plaza in the next several weeks.

Michael Portillo told Joliet Patch that restaurants, oftentimes, get a bad rap. Portillo's is different, he stressed. A large percentage of Portillo's employees make Portillo's a career, he said.

"Portillo's is more than a restaurant, we live family values. Many people turn this into a career," Michael Portillo said.

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