Ugly Downtown Building Has Beautiful Future As Plaza 66

JOLIET, IL - The resurgence of downtown Joliet continues to pick up steam and one of the next major redevelopment projects is positioned to occur on North Ottawa Street at the old Montgomery Ward building. Noe Patino acquired the vacant building this past summer. He has big plans for the property which will be called Plaza 66.

The first order of business is to replace the ugly, windowless facade that fronts Van Buren Street. Knocking out the walls and installing several new windows will take place over the next several weeks, Patino told Joliet Patch during an interview at the property last Friday.

In recent history, the building was known as the Chicago Title company . The property, though, has been vacant for about four years now, he said.

Patino has ambitious plans, and he wants to show the community he means business.

He has a large banner displayed on the outside of the building announcing that a Mexican breakfast and lunch cafe called El Dorado Restaurant will be opening here.

Patino told Patch that El Dorado should be ready to open in March. By then, the new windows should be installed, and the outside of the building will look more attractive, he said.

By the middle of next summer, Patino said, he wants to have at least 40 to 50 percent of the entire commercial building leased.

His goal is to open a nightclub on the basement level. And given that his building is only a block up the street from the 10-story $215 million Will County Courthouse that will open in 2020, Patino said he has been involved in talks with representatives of Jimmy John's about locating at Plaza 66.

He said those talks have been productive, and he believes the addition of Jimmy John's would be great for the downtown, given the economic revitalization that is ongoing.

"You're within walking distance of the new courthouse. Harrah's Casino is right around the corner. There is a lot of traffic through Van Buren Street, which is really good," Patino told Joliet Patch. "The building is right on the perfect spot. All you've got to do is make some new looks to it. I have a construction company, so we can help with construction."

Based on the interview, Patino came off as an energetic and motivated commercial investor. He seemed realistic about his goals and his chances for success with Plaza 66. He said he has been courting an insurance agent to relocate to his new building, and he also believes that getting a floral shop, hair salon and an ice-cream shop would be great additions to the location.

"Those are things I'm thinking might be a good idea," he said. "I do believe that any type of business we put in will be a success."

Patino wants to use the top-level area as a banquet hall or for residential apartments. "I believe 99 percent of my ideas become success," he added.

Patino said he acquired the empty Chicago Title Company property because he senses tremendous success for the city of Joliet during the next five years. The anticipated opening next spring of the El Dorado Restaurant on the main level will "start to create the traffic" that will send a message to other potential tenants that Plaza 66 has a bright, promising future, Patino predicted.

Eventually, if the lower level nightclub comes to fruition, Patino hopes he can draw from the visitors at the nearby Harrah's Casino & Hotel, which faces the back of his property.

But aesthetics mean everything, and the building in its current state is ugly, Patino concedes.

And that's why he plans to sink several thousand dollars into the property to redo the exterior over the next few months.

"The new windows are going to pull attention for sure," he said.

All images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor