Pop's Menu Unveiled: Jefferson St. Restaurant Set To Open

JOLIET, IL — One year after he purchased the empty Boston Market property at 1866 West Jefferson St., suburban restaurant owner Joe Haberkorn is ready to open his new Pop's Italian Beef & Sausage on Joliet's west side. Pop's is set to open Jan. 24, which is a Monday.

"We're very excited to get rolling," Haberkorn told Joliet Patch on Thursday. "We're still hiring, but we're in pretty good shape."

He said the Pop's menu for Joliet will include a couple of pasta dishes, plus hand-cut salads made fresh daily. A photo of the entire Pop's menu, and prices, is at the bottom of this article.

Haberkorn said he would have a big grand opening celebration in about 90 days, toward the end of April, when the weather warms up. The new Pop's in Joliet has a drive-thru window, indoor dining and it will have outdoor patio seating for the summer and fall, Haberkorn said.

What will be the main staples for his new customer base in Joliet?

"It's going to be the beef and sausage," he said.

Last year, Patch reported that Haberkorn owned six Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen fast-food restaurants in Chicago's western suburbs, but none is in Joliet.

Joliet marks his first Pop's franchise. During Thursday's interview, he said that the city of Joliet officials and the Will County Health Department staff have been terrific.

"I've never dealt with anybody as good as Joliet," Haberkorn said. "The city building department, the health department, everybody."

With the Pop's just days away from opening, one of the biggest redevelopment projects in Joliet is taking place directly across the street. The former Kmart store, closed since 2016, is being transformed into a Tony's Fresh Market and a Planet Fitness.

Having a Tony's grocery store across the street is a huge asset for Pop's, Haberkorn said.

"We're just excited about the whole area," he said.

The Joliet's Pop's on West Jefferson Street will maintain the following business hours:

• 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday
• 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.