First Midwest picks new location in downtown Joliet

JOLIET – First Midwest Bank has picked a spot for its new downtown location.

The bank plans to move to 212 N. Chicago St., a building next to a standalone drive-thru facility First Midwest has now.

“We’re very excited about staying downtown,” Senior Vice President Julie McGrath said Thursday after a presentation to the city’s Plan Commission.

First Midwest wants to vacate an alley at the Chicago Street location in order to build a new drive-thru and add off-street parking. The Plan Commission approved vacating the alley, and the City Council will consider the matter next.

McGrath said the bank will wait until the plans are considered by the council before announcing a timetable for moving into the building. But she said First Midwest looks forward to the location, which is across the street from the new Joliet Junior College building.

“I think with the Joliet Junior College building and the redevelopment of Chicago Street, it will be a perfect place for us to be,” McGrath said.

Joliet has begun plans to connect Chicago Street at the point where it is now interrupted by a parking lot outside the Will County Courthouse. The plan, which also calls for widening the street, is designed to bring more vehicle traffic through downtown and Chicago Street in particular.

First Midwest Bank has sold the downtown building it uses now at 25 S. Ottawa St. to Will County, which plans to build a new courthouse there. First Midwest now leases that space.

The 212 N. Chicago St. building has three floors and is owned by John Bays, who has several buildings downtown. First Midwest plans to use the first and possibly second floors.

McGrath said all bank services now offered downtown will continue to be provided at the new location. She said the bank plans to continue to do business without interruption while moving to the new building.