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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 · 4d

We Are Illinois

partner publisher · 5.8K followers
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Portillo's Announces Closures, But What About Rockford?

Portillo's is closing several underperforming restaurants outside Chicagoland. Here's what we know about the Rockford location.

Rockford, IL · 14h

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 · 1d
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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
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fox32chicago.com

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Free turkey giveaway begins at five Chicagoland McDonald's locations

CHICAGO - A holiday food giveaway is bringing support to families at five McDonald’s locations across the Chicago area this week. The Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana is holding its 26th annual Food for the Body & Spirit giveaway from Tuesday through Saturday. The...

Chicago, IL · 19h

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

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 · 1d

unearththevoyage.com

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This Tiny Illinois Bakery Serves Flaky Danish Pastries So Authentic You’ll Swear You’re In Copenhagen

Some of the best bites in Illinois hide in places you would drive right past without a second look. I walked into a small, quiet bakery expecting a quick donut and walked out with a box of buttery Danish treats and a new weekend habit. The kind of flaky layers...

Burr Ridge, IL · 2d

evanstonroundtable.com

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For some Evanston restaurants, fuel costs are taking a bite

Evanston restaurants and bars are usually the ones doing the serving, but lately they’ve been the ones eating, mostly higher costs. Some local purveyors point to rising fuel, especially diesel, as a primary cause, and they’re feeling it in the form of rising cost of freight, smaller deliveries and fewer customers.

Evanston, IL · 9h

CBS Chicago

partner publisher · 230.8K followers

Young bobcat found hurt in DuPage Co. rehabilitated for release

The DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center is caring for a young female bobcat that was found badly injured possibly by a car.

Dupage County, IL · 1d

American Songwriter

partner publisher · 245.5K 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 · 1d

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 · 2d

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 · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

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Step Inside This Illinois Toy And Collectibles Shop Where Old Lunchboxes And Action Figures Bring Your Childhood Right Back

“May the toys be with you.” That’s the cheerful sign-off one Illinois collectibles shop uses whenever it thanks a customer for stopping by. I love that line, because it tells you exactly what kind of happy, slightly obsessed place this is. Its shelves hold Star Wars figures, Marvel Legends, Transformers, Funko Pops, model kits, and stacks of comics.

Wheaton, IL · 7h

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

allamericanatlas.com

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5 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois that Will Make You Feel Like You’re in Rome

Chicago is a city that sings in many tongues—where the L rumbles above streets lined with brick and glass, where the lake wind tangles with the scent of roasted garlic and sweet basil, and where every neighborhood is a patchwork of stories. Here, the skyline rises bold and blue, but it’s the warmth of the people—Polish, Mexican, Black, Irish, Italian, and every dreamer in between—that gives the city its pulse. This is a place where food is memory, migration, and celebration, and where the table is always set for one more.

Chicago, IL · 23h

Secret Chicago

publisher · 7.1K followers

Best spots near the Western Brown Line in Chicago

Watch this video to explore historic spots just a five-minute walk from Chicago’s Western Brown Line, including Merz Apothecary and the Davis Theater.

Chicago, IL · 13h

allhiphop.com

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Da Brat Has Message For Chicago Rappers Looking To Make It Out Of The City

Da Brat is bringing a message to a new generation of Chicago rappers as she prepares to return home this month. She’s joining The Hip Hop Nutcracker with advice for artists still trying to turn neighborhood recognition into something bigger. “I just wanted to be a star outside of...

Chicago, IL · 5h