Louis' Restaurant: Final Weeks Near For 1001 W. Jefferson St.

JOLIET, IL — While his brother Michael was getting their new restaurant ready to open in less than a month, Nick Polimenakos informed Joliet Patch that Sunday, Nov. 28 will be the last day ever for Louis' Family Restaurant, a fixture at 1001 West Jefferson St. since Dec. 18, 1992.

On the last Sunday of November, Louis' will be open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Then, it's history.

The retiring owner's sons are hoping to open their new restaurant, Louie's Waffle House, on Dec. 1, at the former Bob Evans Family Restaurant near the Larkin Avenue exit for Interstate 80.

There is a slight chance their grand opening could get pushed back one week, Nick Pomenakos explained on Friday afternoon.

"We have five different companies working on stuff right now because we're going to do some unique stuff," Nick Polimenakos said. "We're going to go modern. We're putting up animated signs inside and looking at neon signs for the inside."

Bob Evans had a seating capacity for 140 people, but "we'll probably add another 25 seats," Nick said.

While brothers Mike and Nick are opening their own Joliet restaurant at 1776 McDonough St., their 73-year-old father, Louie, has decided to retire from the restaurant industry, rather than keep the Louis' Family Restaurant going at 1001 West Jefferson St.

And that's why he's shutting down the Louis' Family Restaurant for good on the final weekend of November.

"It's about time," smiled Nick Polimenakos. "He put in a good 30 years here. At this point, a lot of his old customers are his friends."

The drive from 1001 West Jefferson St. to the former Bob Evans Family Restaurant takes 4 minutes.

"A lot of customers are telling us they're driving over there to come look at it, and then coming over here to eat," Nick Polimenakos remarked Friday.

The new menu for Louie's Waffle House will feature at least six to eight different waffles, and the brothers are adding cheese curds, ice cream and fruit punch.

The Louie's Waffle House plans to offer "temporary specials" including menu items that have not been offered since their father stopped staying open for dinner in 2002 — fried cod, pot roast and meatloaf.

The brothers also plan to expand "their lunch offerings," and they're considering adding "a tower of onion rings" as one of the new appetizers.

Since the brothers announced their new restaurant venture, a number of people have commented on social media that they should stay open for dinner.

"I guess we need to think about that," Nick said.

For now, the plan for Louie's Waffle House is to stay open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nick Polimenakos stressed that his father will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of Louie's Waffle House.

Still, the brothers expect to see their father visiting from time to time.

"He could never just keep his feet up and just sit down," Nick said. "He's likely to come and say hi to his old customers, the people who kept him alive for 30 years."

So what will Louie be doing if he decides to visit the old Bob Evans on McDonough Street?

"He's a consultant," Nick smiled. "He's a good advertising face."

There are two major differences between the two Joliet restaurant locations.

The Polimenakos brothers have purchased the old Bob Evans property. Their father, on the other hand, has always leased the space for the Louis' Family Restaurant, at 1001 West Jefferson St.

These days, the Jefferson Place business plaza is owned by someone in New Jersey.

Patch asked Nick what he thought of the new parking lot for the Bob Evans property.

"It's like double the parking here," he replied.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Louie's Waffle House To Open At Former Bob Evans Restaurant