Portillo's Pick Up Faces Joliet City Council Vote

JOLIET, IL — Portillo's is coming to Joliet. Last week's news marked the single biggest Joliet restaurant announcement since residents learned that Chick-fil-A planned to demolish the old Lone Star Steakhouse and build a new double-drive thru on the site.

Chick-fil-A opened for business in January along Plainfield Road.

Next week, the Joliet City Council will review a drive-thru permit request for 1444 North Larkin Ave. That's the site of the recently closed IHOP property. Portillo's plans to tear down the restaurant and build a Portillo's Pickup restaurant on the land.

The Portillio's Pick Up would not just include one drive-thru lane, or two drive-thru lanes, it would feature three drive-thru lanes.

The city of Joliet's public service commission meets at 4:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the project. The proposal may go to the full Joliet City Council for a vote at Tuesday's regular meeting that starts at 6:30 p.m.

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk announced last week that he fully supported the proposed redevelopment of the IHOP restaurant land on North Larkin Avenue.

"Portillo's is a popular regional eatery that I am proud to welcome to Joliet," O'Dekirk said in last week's news release. "This new restaurant concept combined with the popularity of Portillo's is a promising addition to the North Ridge Plaza shopping center. This is another outstanding development for Joliet and its residents."