New Thorntons Underway After 1851 House Moved In Joliet

JOLIET, IL — One of the city's most controversial gas station construction projects in recent years is now well underway at 400 Collins St. In March, the 1851-era Cassaday House was moved a few blocks to the east to make way for a new Thorntons gas station and convenience store.

Back in January, against the suggestion of Mayor Bob O'Dekirk, the Joliet City Council granted Thorntons Class B and Class C liquor licenses to redevelop the east side property. When it opens, Thorntons can sell packaged liquor as well as allow on-site consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The city council approved the unique arrangement because Thorntons agreed to pay to relocate the Cassaday House to another location.

The new Thorntons is expected to open within the next few months.

On Wednesday at City Hall, interim city manager Steve Jones called Thorntons a great economic development boost for the city's east side.

It's also more evidence that Joliet's Collins Street corridor is one of the most robust areas of Joliet, Jones said.

One of the biggest complaints from residents on the east side is that gas prices are considerably higher than the prices at the gas stations in other places of Joliet including Plainfield Road and West Jefferson Street. For instance, City Councilwoman Bettye Gavin announced last December that she drives to Lockport to purchase her gasoline.

On Wednesday, Jones told Joliet Patch that Thorntons has a reputation for having some of the lowest fuel prices around the Joliet area and that will be welcome news for people who complain about higher gas prices on the city's east side.

Overall, Jones said he is pleased the Thorntons project is finally moving forward. It's been two years since the project was introduced to the city of Joliet. The efforts by a group of historic preservations to save the Cassaday House slowed the project and almost stopped it from happening.

"It takes land that was not productive and makes it productive," Jones said of the new Thorntons at Jackson and Collins Streets.