Olive Garden sowing seeds in Joliet

The Olive Garden is finally coming to Joliet.

“Olive Garden has chosen a site in Joliet in front of the Costco,” Derek Conley, the city’s economic development director said.

The Joliet Olive Garden is to be built in The Boulevard, a 171-acre development planned for retail, restaurants, hotels and apartments at the northwest corner of the Interstate 55 interchange at U.S. 30. Costco opened in The Boulevard in November 2020.

“They probably won’t start construction until next year,” Conley said of the Olive Garden’s plans, noting that it is already November.

“They’re getting all their ducks in a row,” he said.

Joliet has had its eye on an Olive Garden since at least the early 1990s when the Joliet Commons shopping center, which includes the city’s Target store, was being built. There was talk then of an Olive Garden going into the new development. It did not, and Olive Garden ever since keeps getting mentioned as something Joliet residents really want to have in town.

Developer John Bays spoke in recent years of trying to lure an Olive Garden into downtown Joliet but the chain proved impervious to the city center’s charms. Bays blamed Chicago Street, whose entry to downtown from the south was blocked off until November 2020.

While eagerly anticipated for the last quarter century or so, it seemed at times the Olive Garden might never grace Joliet with its presence. Now, Conley said, it is but one of many future businesses destined to open in The Boulevard.

“We’re hoping for more development out by the Costco,” he said. “That’s just one lot out there and there should be more soon.”