Portillo's coming to Gurnee
Gurnee residents got together to ask Portillo's to open a location in their city, and the restaurant agreed.
The Chicago-based chain will be opening a location on Gurnee Mills Circle in November. Even better, it will be hiring 200 locals to help run the place.
In 2013, a Facebook page called 'Gurnee Wants Portillo's' appeared, and 4,500 people joined the group asking for the restaurant to open a local operation.
Dick Portillo founded the restaurant in 1963 in Villa Park, a Chicago suburb about 20 miles from the city's downtown. Portillo invested $1,100 to open his first restaurant—a hot dog stand he called 'The Dog House' which he set up in a 6' x 12' trailer that had no bathroom or running water; he ran a garden hose 250 feet to a nearby building to get the water he needed to operate. From that beginning, the chain expanded throughout the Chicago area, as well as into Arizona and California.
The company will spend about $5m on the location, which will have a 1920s theme, outdoor seating in warmer weather, and two drive-thru lanes. It will also sell wine and beer.
Early next month, Portillo's will start hiring, using a temporary center set up inside Gurnee Mills.
Portillo's could work with a banner printing company to create a banner to celebrate the grand opening of the new venue when it is complete.
The Chicago-based chain will be opening a location on Gurnee Mills Circle in November. Even better, it will be hiring 200 locals to help run the place.
In 2013, a Facebook page called 'Gurnee Wants Portillo's' appeared, and 4,500 people joined the group asking for the restaurant to open a local operation.
Dick Portillo founded the restaurant in 1963 in Villa Park, a Chicago suburb about 20 miles from the city's downtown. Portillo invested $1,100 to open his first restaurant—a hot dog stand he called 'The Dog House' which he set up in a 6' x 12' trailer that had no bathroom or running water; he ran a garden hose 250 feet to a nearby building to get the water he needed to operate. From that beginning, the chain expanded throughout the Chicago area, as well as into Arizona and California.
The company will spend about $5m on the location, which will have a 1920s theme, outdoor seating in warmer weather, and two drive-thru lanes. It will also sell wine and beer.
Early next month, Portillo's will start hiring, using a temporary center set up inside Gurnee Mills.
Portillo's could work with a banner printing company to create a banner to celebrate the grand opening of the new venue when it is complete.