Joliet Restaurants Told: 'This Is The Start Of Something Great'

JOLIET, IL — Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant were two of the key speakers at Tuesday's first-ever meeting of the new Joliet Region Food and Beverage Association.

"I know there's a number of challenges," O'Dekirk told the crowd of restaurant owners. "Obviously, the shutdowns last year, the labor shortages that all of you are looking at. I just want to let you know that you have a friend with myself and the City Council who supports you."

The meeting, held in a banquet room at Heroes West Sports Grill, attracted at least 80 people including City Council members Jan Quillman and Pat Mudron, city economic development director Derek Conley and Garland Mays, who works in the Will County Executive's Office.

Louisiana natives John Thompson and Colton Trimmer, who just opened the Amigeaux's Sophisticated Street Food restaurant on West Jefferson Street in July, attended Tuesday's Joliet Chamber-sponsored event.

Additionally, Matt Quinn of the Illinois Restaurant Association in Chicago and representatives from the Greek American Restaurant Association also made their presence known.

O'Dekirk told everyone gathered at Heroes West that the city of Joliet received very few complaints during the height of the COVID days "about everyone following the mandates."

"We're going to support you moving forward," O'Dekirk emphasized. "We will do what we can to help local businesses survive and thrive ... of course, anything that you need from me or from the City Hall, please let us know."

Joliet Chamber Vice President Mike Paone told everyone "this is the start of something great."

Paone said the plan is to hold monthly meetings, events that will be split between social functions and professional development such as helping restaurants with staffing and marketing.

These upcoming meetings will likely take place around 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, he said.

"Tell us what you're facing," Paone said. "We don't have this 100 percent mapped out."

Don Williams, who became owner of Syl's in Rockdale in 2019, is one of the seven newly appointed members of the Joliet Region Food and Beverage Association.

"I'm hoping we can get in front of the politicians if they come and meet with us as a group," Williams told Joliet Patch. "I think we need a unified voice because this thing ain't over yet.

"My biggest fear is going into flu season in late December and January. Are you going to get beat up" with more health restrictions on indoor dining?

Al's Steakhouse owner George Daskalakis was credited by Paone for suggesting the idea of establishing the Joliet Region Food and Beverage Association.

The seven-member Joliet Chamber group consists of:

• Cemeno's Pizza, Sue Schultz
• Al's Steakhouse - George Daskalakis
• Great American Bagel - Tom Grotovsky
• Cut 158 Chophouse/Hamburgerseria/etc. - Bill Dimitroulas
• Heroes West - Joe Colkinis
• Jacob Henry Estate - Sue Bornhofen
• Syl's/Renaissance Center - Don Williams

"Perhaps if we have 15 or 20 restaurants, I'm sure we're able to get a better discount, for instance, one company that will come in and put up cameras or all different things," Daskalakis told everyone. "I think there's a lot of benefits, not only for our group, as a food and restaurant and bar association, but there is other business to welcome and join perhaps our group."

Brian Bessler, who runs the Joliet Area Bar & Restaurant Guide on Facebook, was thrilled with the strong turnout at Tuesday's first meeting.

"I just think that's an important step for growing our community stronger," Bessler said. "I think it's a great idea. George (Daskalakis) was right. So many people see each other as competition, when you've got to see each other as being in the same boat."

The two business partners who opened Amigeaux's this summer said the new Joliet Chamber subcommittee was a fantastic idea.

"I think it's great, and it's a testament to the community," Thompson said. "You have several different people here from different backgrounds."

MyGrain Brewing Company owners Grezgorz Lesiak and Vincent Turrise recently celebrated their fourth anniversary in downtown Joliet. In many ways, they feel they were the pioneers for a lot of the business redevelopment that has taken place in Joliet's downtown since they opened MyGrain inside the city's Union Station in 2017.

Lesiak called the new Chamber group "a great idea."

"I think every restaurant owner should be attending. Numbers show of force," he said.