No More Lockdown in Joliet: Restaurant No Longer Taking Over Downtown Building

A former University of St. Francis student has scrapped plans to bring a second location of his successful Chicago burger restaurant to Joliet, Mayor Tom Giarrante confirmed Wednesday.

Lockdown Bar & Grill owner PJ Zonis had a deal in the works to purchase the former Crabigale’s Comedy Club building at Cass and Chicago streets, with plans to open a second location. The original restaurant, located in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village, recently earned Zagat’s “Best Burger in Chicago” honor with its “Warden” burger.

But Joliet residents will still have to make the trek to Chicago if they want to try it.

“They bought a hot dog stand in in the city and they’re wrapped up in that,” said Giarrante, adding that the developers began making plans to purchase the historic downtown Joliet building more than a year ago.

Giarrante said he learned the bad news on Tuesday.

“The good news is I don’t think we will have a hard time filling (the building),” he said.

Other successful new downtown ventures, including Tin Roof and Juliet’s restaurants, could help attract new eateries to the area.

“The more restaurants we have, the better it is,” the mayor said, adding he would like to see a recognizable chain like Tommy Nevin’s come to the former Crabigale’s building. “I’d like to see a name brand in there,” Giarrante said.

Last year, Zonis was looking to buy the building at Chicago and Cass for $250,000. The 124-year-old structure is also known as the Loughran Building. It was most recently home to Crabigale’s, which closed in 2006.