BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse Ready To Do Business In Joliet: City Council Liquor License Vote Here

JOLIET, IL — Joliet may not be heralded as the dining capital of the world, but the community has made giant strides over the past few years. Evidence of that progress is taking place at The Boulevard, the mega development near Interstate 55 and Route 30.

In April 2023, Joliet landed an Olive Garden Italian Restaurant to anchor the restaurant portion of the development near the Costco store, and this past June 1, Longhorn Steakhouse marked its grand opening. Joliet Patch was on hand to witness Mayor Terry D'Arcy take a bite of that juicy mouth-watering delicious steak.

What's next?

How about a BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse?

The Monday and Tuesday night Joliet City Council meeting agendas include a proposed liquor license for the new BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse that will be opening soon at 16336 Boulevard Place.

According to the Council packet, the subject business is a new restaurant within The Boulevard Place development near I-55. The property is zoned for general business, which allows for a restaurant with on-site consumption and the sale of liquor.

RELATED: New Traffic Signal By Costco To Be Turned On Soon

The property is surrounded by other commercial developments within Joliet or Plainfield's zoning boundaries. Keep in mind that a large portion of The Boulevard falls within the village of Plainfield land boundaries, too, most notably the Cooper's Hawk winery.

As for BJ's liquor license, the Joliet Police Department does not foresee any special law enforcement problems associated with the issuance of a liquor license for this business, city of Joliet documents show. At a recent City Hall liquor commission hearing, nobody showed up at the meeting to voice their opposition to the liquor license.

Before it opens its new Joliet location, the closest BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse locations are on South LaGrange Road in Orland Park and in Merrillville, Indiana.

"We started in 1978 with a delicious California twist on deep dish pizza. Today we’ve grown to become the energized, welcoming getaway where craft beer is hero. And a remarkable menu offers something for everyone to love. Guests say we’re their everyday escape — and prove it by coming back time and again," the BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse website proclaims.

The company website indicates that BJ's offers the following daily specials at its various restaurants:

• MONDAYS: $19.99 Large Deep Dish or $14.99 Tavern-Cut Pizza
• TUESDAYS: $5 Pizookies
• WEDNESDAYS: $12.99 Loaded Burgers with Unlimited Fries
• THURSDAYS: $19.99 Slow-Roasted Entree with Dessert
• FRIDAY-SUNDAY: 3-COURSE WEEKEND SPECIAL* with choice of Double Bone-In Pork Chop or Prime Rib