Dock Rotz makes plans to replace Traditions in Joliet

Dock Rotz Tavern plans to replace Traditions at the Inwood Athletic Center.

The Minooka restaurant doesn’t have the space yet. But the Joliet Park District board this week instructed staff to negotiate for the restaurant and bar space at the facility.

“We’ve had a lot of success in Minooka,” said Nicki Schultz, a manager at Dock Rotz. “We wanted to try out Joliet.”

Dock Rotz Tavern has been open for five years.

They plan to name the Inwood space The Dock at Inwood Bar and Grill.

It would be the third restaurant to occupy the space at Inwood, which Lindy-Gerties first opened. Traditions Restaurant and Pub opened in 2008 and closed in July.

About a half-dozen potential restaurant operators asked about the space, and most of them submitted proposals, park district Executive Director Tom Carstens said.

Carstens noted a contract must be negotiated before Dock Rotz moves in. But he said the park board selected the business for a number of reasons, including its menu, references, cleanliness and plans for the Inwood space.