Richardson's Opens In Joliet: 'We're Going To Grow At A Steady Pace'

JOLIET, IL — Joliet's first new restaurant to open this year has ambitious plans in store for 2023. Marzell Richardson III opened Richardson's Restaurant this week at 81 North Chicago Street, in downtown Joliet, across the street from the Rialto Square Theatre.

Richardson's is now open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on most nights of a Rialto show. Richardson's will open next Saturday night, Jan. 21, when Nikki Glaser has two shows at the Rialto theater.

Richardson said he will feature Italian beef as well as meatball sandwiches and burgers on the night of Glaser's Jan. 21 performance at the Rialto.

The meatball sandwich will be one of the main menu items all next week, he said.

This week's menu includes chicken noodle soup, chili, barbecue pulled pork sandwiches and what's being called "the ultimate chicken salad."

Richardson said the chili comes with a honey sweet cornbread, Southern style.

Richardson said his blueberry muffins are becoming a hit with his new customer base.

For Monday's first day of business, Richardson said he took about 50 total food orders. "It was perfect," he said. "Steady, but not overwhelming. We're not trying to eat the elephant. We're going to grow at a steady pace."

Working with Richardson in the kitchen is his new head cook, Jeremy Milam.

"We're adding items systematically," he said of the menu.

On nights of Rialto shows, Richardson's will open the restaurant two hours before the performance, he said.

And come next week, Richardson's will be bolstering its breakfast options. He will be selling a regular coffee, decaffeinated, French vanilla and hazelnut. "I wanted the very best bean I could," he said. "It's a premium roasted, organic, South American bean.

"We're not Jitters. We're not a coffeehouse, but we have coffee to go with our fresh baked goods," Richardson stressed.

Next week menu's will also include the addition of waffle sandwiches.

In the spring and summer, Richardson's will be hosting a number of events including a paint and sip in the park, R & B in the park, country in the park, old school hip hop and a Latin night.

Richardson's is expected to obtain its liquor license in the coming weeks, that way he can offer strawberry shortcake shakes with alcohol as well as margaritas.

He's hoping to work with the nearby MyGrain Brewing Company at the Union Station to offer their beer products at his restaurant.

What's his hope for the future of Richardson's?

"We want people to leave happy and satisfied," he remarked.