Portillo’s heading to Springfield
The capital city’s long wait for a Portillo’s will soon be over.
The Oak Brook-based chain, known for its Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, announced plans Thursday to open a Springfield restaurant at the site of the former Walgreen's at the southwest corner of Veterans Parkway and Lindbergh Blvd.
The 7,800-square-foot restaurant is expected to open in the second half of 2021, according to a news release.
“Portillo’s is looking forward to expanding into our home state’s capital city,” said company CEO Michael Osanloo. “Springfield is a great market, and we’re excited to be a part of the community.”
The restaurant will feature a 1950s and 1960s diner-themed interior that pays homage to Route 66. There will be seating for 190 people, a seasonal outdoor patio for 50 people and double drive-thru lanes.
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Mayor Jim Langfelder said he welcomed Portillo’s investment in Springfield and noted that he’s been a fan of the chain since he first ate there with his family after a Chicago Cubs game eight years ago.
“Ever since then, I could not wait to have the opportunity to enjoy their Italian beef and chocolate cake shake in Mr. Lincoln’s hometown,” Langfelder said. “With their delicious food and one-of-a-kind experience, Portillo’s will be a welcomed addition to our city’s culinary mix.”
Portillo’s interest dates back to at least 2016, when company officials announced plans to “consider several locations throughout central Illinois, including Champaign, Springfield and Peoria.”
Locations opened in Champaign and Normal in 2017 and Peoria in 2018.
In an interview with The State Journal-Register, Portillo’s vice president of real estate Randy Guse said the company had been looking in the Springfield “market for the right site for a long time and the right site came along and we jumped at it.”
The existing Walgreens structure, which was shuttered in September 2019, will be demolished.
Guse said major selling points were accessibility to the entire market through Interstate 72, proximity to strong retailers like Walmart and Target, good visibility and high traffic counts — about 34,000 vehicles per day — along Veterans Parkway.
The large lot is also laid out well for the restaurant’s double drive thru, Guse said.
“We think it's just a big, marquee site that anyone coming to visit Springfield or shopping or dining in Springfield won't be able to miss,” he said.
Though reaction to the chain finally entering the Springfield market has generally been positive, some have expressed concern with traffic congestion at the proposed site.
It sits near the entrance to the Parkway Pointe shopping center, which is already significantly congested during peak travel times. And the chain is known as a high-volume restaurant that can have significant business throughout the day.
But Guse said the company “studied that really closely” and said they don’t expect “a significant deterioration in the accessibility of the site or the traffic.”
The restaurant will have three access points — two along Freedom Drive and one along Lindbergh Boulevard. The latter will be a right-in, right-out intersection, Guse said.
Langfelder acknowledged there will be some challenges with the site, but said "we'll work through it.“
The hot dog chain, which was founded in Villa Park in 1963, has grown its footprint significantly since it was sold by founder Dick Portillo to Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners in 2014.
In that time, the number of locations has jumped from 38 to more than 60, with the chain expanding beyond its home Chicago market to downstate Illinois and surrounding states like Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Other markets with a high number of Chicago transplants, such as Arizona and central Florida, have also been targeted.
But it took a little longer for the stars to align for the famous hot dog chain and Springfield.
City officials had been in conversations with the restaurant for years about a Springfield outpost.
Langfelder himself pitched multiple sites, including the former Days Inn property along Stevenson Drive near Dirksen Parkway and the Y-Block in downtown Springfield.
And city economic development officials had promoted several different west side locations once the chain made clear that’s the direction they were headed.
“We are excited to welcome Portillo’s to Springfield,” said Office of Planning and Economic Development director Val Yazell. “They have a reputation as a great community partner and we look forward to working with them to further their goal of positively impacting communities they serve.”
The Springfield location will have a slightly smaller footprint than a typical Portillo’s, which usually range between 8,000 to 9,000 square feet. But, seating capacity will remain the same as most other stores, Guse said.
He said construction should begin in the spring of 2021 and will take about five months.
Portillo’s spokeswoman Sarah Wirth said the chain typically hires between 120 to 130 workers for new restaurants.
Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer said he is “looking forward to seeing them build and open” in his ward.
“Anytime we can get new businesses in Springfield is a good thing, especially for them to announce during these times,” Hanauer said. “You know, it shows how good our economy is in Springfield.”
Langfelder echoed the point.
“It really reassures people that times are tough, but Springfield's economy is strong, there's a national company that understands it, and they're going to locate here and make that commitment,” Langfelder said. “So that speaks volumes to how strong our community is.”
When the restaurant opens next year, Langfelder said he knows what his first meal at that location will be: an Italian combo with hot peppers.
“And since it would be the initial order, I’d probably have to include a cake shake,” Langfelder said.
Contact Brenden Moore: 788-1526, bmoore@sj-r.com, twitter.com/brendenmoore13.