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The Independent

partner publisher · 2.6M followers
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Popular Chicago chain known for its hot dogs set to close locations

The Chicago-based fast-casual chain, known for its hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, has 109 locations nationwide Getty/iStock To be frank, fans of a popular Chicago -style hot dog chain may not relish this news. Portillo’s plans to close a “mid-to-high single-digit number” of underperforming restaurants outside the Chicago area, mostly by the end of the year, CEO Brett Patterson announced Thursday. The Chicago-based fast-casual chain, known for its hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, has 109 locations nationwide. It said it looked at each restaurant’s sales, operating costs and expected future performance before deciding which ones to close. The company has not yet announced the affected locations. “This will improve portfolio quality, strengthen returns on invested capital and reflect our commitment to disciplined growth,” Patterson said. The move comes as Portillo’s looks to get back on track after struggling to find the same success in markets outside Chicago. The move comes as Portillo’s looks to get back on track after struggling to find the same success in markets outside Chicago (Getty/iStock) Portillo’s plans to put more focus on its existing restaurants and take a more careful approach to opening new locations, particularly in unfamiliar markets. Patterson said the chain

Chicago, IL · 3d

NBC Chicago

publisher · 127.4K followers

Portillo's to close up to 9 ‘underperforming restaurants,' company announces

Iconic Chicago hot dog and Italian beef chain Portillo's will close a "select group of underperforming locations," the company announced during a third-quarter earnings call Thursday. The update came as the company said its results were "ahead" of expectations. “Our strategy is centered on running great restaurants, leveraging integrated marketing...

Chicago, IL · 23h
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familydestinationsguide.com

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This Illinois Seafood Restaurant Is Known Far And Wide For Its Incredibly Fresh Fried Fish

Some restaurants earn their reputation quietly, one perfectly fried piece of fish at a time, and The Fish Keg in Chicago has been doing exactly that for longer than most food trends have existed. If you haven’t heard of The Fish Keg yet, that’s about to change. The...

Chicago, IL · 3d
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everafterinthewoods.com

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This Family-Run Illinois Italian Market Still Bakes Its Bread Fresh And Piles Subs High For Under $10

A 9-inch Italian beef from this deli can show up looking more like a 12-inch one. That’s the kind of generous surprise that gets an old-school Illinois sandwich counter talked about across the city. The beef comes from a family recipe, and it can arrive fully dipped and dripping....

Chicago, IL · 4d
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takingthekids.com

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These 10 Warehouse-Style Secondhand Stores In Illinois Are Worth Every Mile Of The Drive

One antique mall in Illinois fills an old school building with three floors of collectibles and serves coffee on-site. Another sits in a historic train station. A third shares space with a diner that scoops ice cream and sells fudge. I love that secondhand shopping here comes with this much...

Chicago, IL · 4d

metv.com

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The Rifleman's Chuck Connors gave Chicago a shoutout in 1961

Even an Old West cowboy needed a change of scenery sometimes!. Chuck Connors was best known for his role as Lucas McCain on The Rifleman. As a hardworking rancher with a strong moral compass, McCain was the perfect picture of a classic Western hero. But off-screen, Connors was quite a bit more of a city boy than his TV counterpart.

Chicago, IL · 19h

gotodestinations.com

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Why Locals ADORE This Hot Dog Drive-In That’s Older Than McDonald’s in Chicago, Illinois

Open Sun–Thu, 11 AM–1 AM; Fri–Sat, 11 AM–2 AM. In May 1948, two newlyweds opened a summer hot dog drive-in in Chicago to help pay for college. 🌭. At Superdawg Drive-In, Chicago diners still pull into a carport, order through a speaker box and wait for a carhop’s tray on the car window.

Chicago, IL · 6h

KICK AM 1530

partner publisher · 40.4K followers

Someone in Illinois Won $7.4 Million and Nobody Knows Who

The Illinois Lottery looking for the mystery winner of more than $7.4 million dollars who identity remains unknown.

Illinois · 5d

American Songwriter

partner publisher · 245.4K followers

Born 83 Years Ago Today in the Windy City, the Drummer Whose Band Went From the Top 5 to Making Commercials for Coca-Cola and the US Navy

On this day (November 9) in 1943, Lee Graziano was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known as the drummer for the 1960s pop band The American Breed. They notched a few top 40 hits in the mid-60s. Their biggest chart success was the 1967 single “Bend Me, Shape Me,” which landed in the top 10 in the United States and Canada. They also recorded jingles for major corporations, including Coca-Cola, Bell Telephone, the United States Navy, and American Airlines.

Chicago, IL · 19h

everafterinthewoods.com

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8 Old-School Illinois Bowling Alleys Where Shoes, Lanes And Food Still Cost Like 1985

A bowling alley in Illinois started out as a 1911 garage, and it later became a filming location for Groundhog Day. Yes, the Bill Murray one, and I can’t stop smiling at that detail. Another spot rolls on 12 wood lanes beneath a historic theater. A third still keeps...

Illinois · 3d

Secret Chicago

publisher · 7.1K followers

A new free holiday food festival is coming to Chicagoland this Christmas season—less than 1 hour from downtown

The holidays in Chicago are almost here, and we’ve got another fun-filled event for you to keep on your radar that’s sure to put you in the spirit of the season. The inaugural Great Chicago Holiday Food Festival is taking over Northwestern University’s Ryan Field from November 27 through December 27. Here’s a sneak peek at all the fun. The Great Chicago Holiday Food Festival comes to The Village at Ryan Field The Great Chicago Holiday Food Festival will bring a full month of seasonal eats, artisan vendors, and Christmas cheer to The Village at Ryan Field. The Village is a walkable outdoor district adjacent to Ryan Field with 6 pavilions hosting pop-ups from popular local restaurants. The holiday food festival will feature seasonal bites from the likes of Publican Quality Bread, Frontera, Gibson’s Steakhouse, and others. Guests can warm up with a festive cocktail or beer at the Holiday Hall bar, complete with toasty fireplaces and beer garden-style seating. After grabbing something to eat, guests can explore a quaint holiday vendor market, with gifts and stocking stuffers galore. The Village will be decked out with holiday lights and decorations making for some unforgettable photo ops. And the best part?

Chicago, IL · 2d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This South Side Chicago Counter Has Been Dunking Breaded Steak Sandwiches In Red Gravy Since 1976, And Illinois Still Lines Up

A four-pound sandwich sits on the menu at one South Side counter, and it comes breaded, fried, and dunked in red gravy. Anthony Bourdain counted that sandwich among the best sandwiches in the world. The star is USDA Choice skirt steak, tenderized and hand-breaded with Italian seasonings. Then it gets...

Chicago, IL · 2d

CBS Chicago

partner publisher · 230.8K followers

NW Side café vandalized with racial slurs month after opening

Mi Gente Café on Harlem and Farragut opened its doors to the public a month ago.

Chicago, IL · 1d

NBC Chicago

publisher · 127.4K followers

These twelve Chicago restaurants made OpenTable's 2026 list of top 100 in the US

Twelve Chicago restaurants made a new list of the top 100 spots to dine in the country. The list, created by restaurant reservation platform OpenTable, was "generated from over 11 million reviews from verified OpenTable diners and dining metrics," its introduction states. Only restaurants in "good standing" with OpenTable and...

Chicago, IL · 3d

fastfoodclub.com

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Since 1938, Russell’s Barbecue In Elmwood Park Has Served Beef Sandwiches From The Same Pit

Some families pass down recipes, and some pass down a favorite booth. Just west of Chicago, there is a barbecue counter where grandparents, parents, and kids have all ordered the same beef sandwich across many decades. The place opened in 1938, long before drive-thrus and self-serve soda machines were common,...

Elmwood Park, IL · 6d

unearththevoyage.com

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Rows Of Pinball Machines Fill This Stone Park, Illinois Arcade Where The Games Are Meant To Be Played

Some of the best finds in Illinois hide in buildings you would drive right past without a second look. You pull up to a quiet block, half wondering if you took a wrong turn, and then you hear it: bells, flippers, and the happy clatter of steel balls. Inside waits...

Stone Park, IL · 2d

chicagocrusader.com

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Storefront Theatres Join Forces for New Play

Perceptions Theatre and Coalescence Theatre Project bring award-winning playwright Kelundra Smith’s darkly comic drama about five Black women healthcare workers to Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Perceptions Theatre has partnered with Coalescence Theatre Project to develop and showcase new plays by more artistically diverse voices on Chicago’s storefront theatre...

Chicago, IL · 3d

homeworlddesign.com

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Shoreline Reflections Opens a Lake Michigan Home to Water and Light

Builder:Jacob Goldberg, Goldberg General Contracting, Inc. Robbins Architecture designed Shoreline Reflections for a site with nearly 400 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan in Highland Park, Illinois, taking water, light, and the horizon as the main references for the house. Architect Celeste Robbins led the design, with interiors by Andrea Goldman Design and landscape architecture by Mariani Landscape.

Highland Park, IL · 1d

hoodline.com

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Chicago Dog Licenses Plummet to 4,100 as 650,000 Pups Go Unregistered

Chicago's dog owners are skipping out on city licenses in droves, with just 4,100 issued so far this year in a city estimated to have more than 650,000 dogs. City Clerk Anna Valencia says her office simply does not have the staff, money, or public awareness campaign needed to turn that number around.

Chicago, IL · 2d