Whiskey River: 'I Don't Think There's Anything Like It In Joliet'

JOLIET, IL — Vice president of operations Dan Scott admits that Joliet's Clarion Hotel was in sorry shape when his company, Posh Hospitality Group, purchased the 200-room hotel at Joliet's Larkin Avenue exit along Interstate 80 last July.

"It was rundown. It was tired. It hadn't had a renovation in about 12 years," Scott told Joliet Patch during Wednesday's interview. "We really wanted to change the stigma because a lot of people thought it was rundown."

Six months later, Posh Hospitality Group is well underway with its $1.5 million interior and exterior renovations to the Clarion Hotel at 411 South Larkin Ave.

"It's not the same place it used to be," Scott insisted.

Scott's key to the Clarion Hotel's success is its new restaurant and bar, Whiskey River Bar & Grill that opened Wednesday. A photo of the entire menu is at the bottom of this article.

"I don't think there's anything like it in Joliet," Scott said. "That was our goal. This was all designed by our whole management team.

Scott wants most of the customer base for Whiskey River to come from Joliet area residents, not just out-of-town guests staying overnight at the Clarion Hotel.

"It's a whiskey-inspired kitchen, and it's all scratch cooking," Scott told Joliet Patch. "Literally, everything is scratch."

Scott hopes the following menu items will become signature dishes at Whiskey River:

• Chicken and waffles with maple butter and a bourbon maple syrup.
• Grilled salmon with a whiskey glaze
• Ribeye steak with chimichurri served with maple bourbon Brussels sprouts.

Whiskey River is open every day from 4 to 10 p.m. The happy hour specials are daily, from 4 to 5 p.m., featuring 75-cent chicken wings, $3 draft beers and $5 classic cocktails, Scott said.

Whiskey River can accommodate 100 guests.

The previous owners of the Clarion Hotel had a steakhouse on the premises, but it closed two-and-a-half years ago, Scott said.

Scott said much of the seating inside the Whiskey River is geared for groups of six to 10 people.

"There's a whole whiskey cocktail menu. There's also smoked whiskeys. All our cocktails are crafted with fresh ingredients," Scott said.

In addition to acquiring the Clarion Hotel., Posh Hospitality Group owns three other hotels in Joliet: Best Western, Comfort Inn and Quality Inn.

The Clarion Hotel is a three-star hotel, Scott said.

Now that Whiskey River has opened, Posh Hospitality Group plans to renovate all 200 guest rooms inside the Clarion Hotel. The final leg of the remodeling will be the exterior facade.

"So, we remodeled the entrance, the convention center and banquet hall, it seats 700 people," Scott explained.

From noon to 3 p.m. on March 13, the Clarion Hotel will be hosting a bridal expo expected to attract 300 brides and 60 local vendors. The grand ballroom's remodeling included new carpeting and all new lighting. The hotel's walls were re-painted.

As of Jan. 12, the Joliet Clarion Hotel already has "20 bigger events on the books right now" for 2022. The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce will have its business after hours event at the new and improved Clarion Hotel from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 27.

"Our goal is to attract more weddings and business groups," Scott said. "I'm just hoping people come back and give this place a second opportunity. We just had a vision for this place, and I think it's going to come through."