Joliet's Restaurant Scene Had Several Big Stories In September

JOLIET, IL — When it comes to local history, thousands of Will County residents may always remember September for one blockbuster Joliet restaurant story: the retirement of Ken and Pat Reimer, the owners of Chicken-N-Spice.

After 42 years of thriving in downtown Joliet, the Reimers called it quits Sept. 14. There was a huge retirement celebration, with lots of cake and free chicken chunks for everyone. Illinois State Senator John Connor came to the send-off and gave the Reimers a state recognition award.

Nowadays, the Chicken-N-Spice building is empty, day after day. The restaurant sign got taken down.

September also saw the end of Barolo's Italian Restaurant on Joliet's Black Road. Owners Guy and Melissa Turi announced the sale of their business on Facebook. Patch later learned that someone who owns a Mexican seafood restaurant in Du Page County plans to expand into Joliet, but it may take a few months before the new restaurant opens at the former Barolo's site.

The loss of Chicken-N-Spice and Barolo is sad for thousands and thousands of Joliet area residents, but there were plenty of positive restaurant news chronicled in September by Joliet Patch.

There was also a story about a woman's arrest inside the Joliet McDonald's on Cass Street.

Here's a look back at many of the Joliet Patch's most popular restaurant and bar stories were covered during September:

Joliet's 1st Robeks Juice Opens On Caton Farm Road

On Sept. 29, Patch reported that the California-based Robeks franchise made Joliet its second restaurant in Illinois. The first location is in Naperville. Angela Townsend opened her Joliet store at 4704 Caton Farm Road. Robeks offers 10 classic smoothies, four superfood smoothies, three Acai smoothies, five performance smoothies, three low-calorie smoothies and four wellness smoothies. The five fruit bowls include: Acai Strawnana Berry, Acai Tropical Mango, Nutty Acai, Green Bliss and Acai Especial.

Here's Why Bernie's Jerk Kitchen Became THA Kitchen

On Sept. 29, Patch reported that after being closed nearly four months, Joshua Betts has reopened his restaurant on Black Road, changing the name and changing his menu. Betts said he wanted his Joliet restaurant to be known for more than just jerk chicken. He also ditched the breakfast menu and got rid of the waffles. THA Kitchen officially reopened for business Sept. 23.

McDonald's Fight In Joliet Leads To Woman's Arrest: Cops

On Sept. 29, Patch reported that Joliet police said 44-year-old Mabel Rodriguez was responsible for causing a fight inside the McDonald's restaurant on Cass Street. Rodriguez was at the McDonald's to fight the two people over issues between families, according to Joliet police.

New Barolo's Owners Won't Serve Italian Food

On Sept. 28, Patch reported that Joliet area commercial real estate developer Charles Sharp revealed that the new restaurant replacing Barolo's will be impressive. Sharp told Joliet Patch the new owners won't be keeping the name of Barolo's when they open their new restaurant. A Mexican seafood restaurant that also features live music entertainment will be taking over the Barolo's location.

Smallcakes Ribbon-Cutting: 'Joliet's Feedback Fantastic'

On Sept. 24, Joliet Chamber executives Jen Howard, Mike Paone along with the city economic development director attended Friday's ribbon cutting for the first Smallcakes to open in Joliet. Howard said attracting Smallcakes to Jefferson Street is another great success for the city. "We couldn't be more thrilled to have such a fun, upbeat and happy product and business opening in Joliet," Howard said. "Just coming into the store will make anyone happy."

Portillo's Draws Inflatable Rat To Joliet Construction Site

On Sept. 21, Patch reported the construction project along Larkin Avenue is using non-union labor, according to members of Local Laborers #75. Local 75 said it is protesting the use of non-union construction labor at the Portillo's restaurant development, specifically the use of Scapin Construction located in Inverness as well as Henson Concrete Construction, which is located in St. Charles. Joliet's future 3,750-square-foot Portillo's Pickup restaurant will not have an indoor dining room. Instead, it will feature three drive-thru lanes and an area for pick-up orders.

Joey's Red Hots Opens: Draws 250 Lunch Customers

On Sept. 20, Patch reported that Monday marked the first day of business for the popular Chicago area restaurant that opened at 2228 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill. During Monday's opening day, the most popular entrées included the Maxwell Street Polish sausage, hot dogs and "a lot of gyros," Joey's Red Hots owner Anthony Nardo said. There are also Joey's Red Hots in Chicago's Morgan Park area, New Lenox and Orland Park.

Barolo Restaurant Owners Move On, Sell Business

On Sept. 20, Patch reported that Guy and Melissa Turi have sold their Barolo Restaurant along Black Road. Barolo Ristorante has been in Joliet since 2000. After originally opening in downtown Joliet, Guy Turi moved his Italian cuisine restaurant in 2008 to the strip mall near Black Road and Infantry Drive.

Joliet's Route 66 Diner: 'We Get People From Europe, All Over'

On Sept. 15, Patch wrote a feature story on The Joliet Route 66 diner. About half of The Joliet Route 66 Diner's customers are out of town tourists visiting Joliet as part of the Historic Route 66 experience. Claudia Salez and Ariana Ruiz operate The Joliet Route 66 Diner, and their breakfast and lunch diner has been a part of downtown Joliet for decades. Years ago, it was called the Peter Piper Restaurant.

Chicken-N-Spice Farewell: Senator Connor Presents Award

On Sept. 14, Joliet Patch reported on the final day of business and retirement party for Ken and Pat Reimer, who closed Chicken-N- Spice in Joliet after 42 years of business. Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk said it's bittersweet for Joliet to lose Chicken-N-Spice, given how much of an impact the Reimers have had on the city. "They've been a staple in downtown Joliet for years, and they will be very missed," O'Dekirk said.

Domino's Pizza Opening On Joliet's West Side

On Sept. 13, Patch reported that eight months after the owners of Joliet's Giarrante's Barber Shop announced they were relocating from 248 Republic Ave. to a new location on Essington Road, a new Domino's pizza restaurant is coming to Republic Avenue. The new addition on Joliet's west side marks the seventh Domino's Pizza to open in the area.

Will Niko's Replace Chicken-N-Spice As Downtown Joliet's Draw?

On Sept. 9, Patch reported that the downtown Joliet's premier restaurant, Chicken-N-Spice, closes forever Sept. 14. That means Niko's Pizzeria may draw even more customers.

Niko's is a giant on social media. Niko's recently surpassed 10,000 Facebook followers. It's now at 10,021. What makes Niko's special?

"The unique specials and crazy dishes that we do," its owner remarked.

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

On Sept. 7, Patch reported that the new Shorewood wine and crafted cocktail bar on Route 52 called Mauve Nosh & Libations has opened. It's owned by Nick Pena and Kala Bieniek Saunders. Mauve Nosh & Libations is a crafted cocktail, wine and small plate bar owned by Nick Pena and Kala Bieniek Saunders.

Mauve will operate from 3 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. It will be closed Sundays, the owners said.

"It's exciting," Pena told Joliet Patch's editor during Tuesday's grand opening gala. "We had a huge turnout of friends and family."

Chicken-N-Spice Closing Next Week: Ken And Pat Reimer Retiring

On Labor Day, Patch reported that Joliet's Chicken-N-Spice restaurant is closing for good next week after 42 years of business. On Sept. 14, the restaurant will have a celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. that will include "cake and camaraderie." Pat Reimer, who turned 78, and her husband, Ken, 81, are retiring. They lease the restaurant property from Joliet Junior College. The restaurant will be torn down for additional parking spaces, a plan that's been in the works for several years.

K Ribs BBQ On 3 Years In Joliet: 'We Just Focus On Our Quality'

On Sept. 3, Patch produced a feature story on K Ribs BBQ because Joliet's first Korean-style barbecue ribs restaurant will have been open in downtown Joliet for three years this fall. It's in downtown Joliet at 221 North Chicago St., right next to the Joliet Junior College culinary arts campus. "We thought we would have a hard time with the pandemic, but we didn't at all," owner Dillon Kim said. "We just focus on our quality. "