Senor Tequila Ruins: New Building Will Be Up In No Time

JOLIET, IL — For the past several years, Joliet's most dilapidated property on West Jefferson Street was known as Senor Tequila. But that's no longer true anymore. In fact, the former Senor Tequila property is starting to look pretty sharp, seriously.

On Friday, several contractors were hard at work installing the walls for the future Basinger's Pharmacy and liquor store. That's right, roughly five years after the Joliet City Council approved Basinger's construction plans for the old Senor Tequila property at2219 West Jefferson St., redevelopment is taking place.

When the new pharmacy and liquor store is finished being built, Basinger's plans to vacate its retail storefront across the street within Joliet's Marycrest Shopping Center.

Earlier this year, the city of Joliet's corporation counsel filed a lawsuit against the owners of the Senor Tequila property after declaring it a public nuisance. Action from Joliet's legal counsel motivated the owners of Basinger's Pharmacy to finally tear down the empty bar that they acquired several years ago, a bar that became a giant eyesore for West Jefferson Street.

At a time when city and business leaders were touting all the positive redevelopment occurring on West Jefferson Street, Basinger's Pharmacy had been letting the Senor Tequila property go to ruins. But not anymore. Basinger's Pharmacy is finally ready to make the move across the street. The construction work is moving ahead at a fast pace as September draws to a close.

Seeing is believing.