12 Stories From 2024 That Made Joliet Residents Proud: Photos

JOLIET — A lot of great things happened in Joliet during 2024 and Joliet Patch was on hand to capture those events and produce stories about people making a positive impact in the community. Some are famous Hollywood celebrities making their pilgrimage to Joliet, others are people who live and work in Joliet every day, doing their best to bring smiles to you and the people they serve.

In no particular order, here's a recap of several Joliet Patch stories that stood out during the past year:

Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi Rock Old Joliet Prison: 24 Photos

If August 17 marked the final concert on stage together for Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi as the legendary Blues Brothers, the Hollywood giants went out with a bang, gracing around 5,000 fans with an electrifying performance behind the limestone walls of the world-famous Old Joliet Prison. This was the place where Aykroyd and Belushi's late brother John starred as Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues, the legendary Blues Brothers.

Saturday night's concert featured another headliner on the stage, Bones Malone. Ronnie Baker Brooks and Curtis Salgado were also invited on the stage to perform during The Blues Brothers concert that began around 9:30 p.m. and ended at 11 p.m. People from 11 different countries bought tickets and traveled to Joliet for Saturday night's historic event.

Joliet Patch covered the entire event, producing a total of 11 different Facebook Live videos, including an interview with Aykroyd and Belushi.

Taste Of Joliet Shatters 3-Day Crowd Record 'Without A Doubt': D'Arcy

Friday night's show featuring the Goo Goo Dolls drew an estimated 25,000 fans, and Mayor Terry D'Arcy figured that was about the same size crowd for Saturday's Country Music Night, headlined by the wildly popular Lady A. On June 23, the wildly popular Hispanic band, Los Huracanes Del Norte, with nearly 4 million Facebook followers, packed the house inside Joliet's Memorial Stadium. D'Arcy, along with City Councilman Cesar Cardenas and Brad Staab of the Joliet Park District, were thrilled beyond belief with Sunday evening's enormous crowd size.

Back-to-back years of record attendance for Taste of Joliet will absolutely have major entertainers in the music industry along with influential concert promoters talking up Joliet in a tremendous way, D'Arcy assured Joliet Patch.

25 Photos: Bill Murray Bobblehead Night, Kids, Parents, Fans Had Blast

For several years, Joliet Slammers baseball games were boring, and low attendance plagued the Frontier League team as the team frequently exaggerated their game day attendance.

But 2024 is a different story. Now that Mike Veeck, his son, Night Train, as well as world-famous comedian and movie star Bill Murray are the new owners, Joliet Slammers baseball is fun again, and large numbers of people are filling the stands this summer.
Saturday night's game against the Ottawa Titans of Canada marked the first Bobblehead giveaway of the season, and it was a talker. The first 1,500 Joliet Slammers fans received a Bill Murray Bobblehead.

Star Wars Day Joliet 2024: Here's Your Photo Gallery

On June 1, Shorewood canceled Saturday's BBQ & Brews festival because of the rain. ACE Drive-In announced on Facebook that it would not open Saturday because of the rains, but here in downtown Joliet, you cannot stop the Joliet Public Library's annual Star Wars Day. Despite the steady but light rains, the 11 a.m. parade took place along Chicago Street and several hundred people showed up to watch the event.

Milano Turns 109: Fresh Bread Only $1.09 To Celebrate

One of Joliet's most beloved businesses, a downtown bakery that has created millions of loaves of fresh bread, pastries and more has scaled back its retail prices as a token of appreciation toward its customers, as Milano Bakery marks its 109th anniversary in Joliet.

"Milano Bakery’s retail shop brings the taste of old world traditions to your family’s table," the Milano website proclaims.

From Aug. 10 through Aug. 24, the Milano bakery at 433 S. Chicago St. in downtown Joliet is selling its "Fresh Milano Bread For Only $1.09," the sign reads. Included in the sale are the 4-inch French rolls, which come in a bag of six. The eight-packs of hot dog buns and hamburger buns are also marked down to $1.09 during the two-week-long birthday celebration. Customers are limited to two packs.

Rax Roast Beef, A Joliet Tradition Since 1968, Still Thriving

A limited menu. Quick service. Loyal and long-time staff. A business philosophy of keeping it simple and consistent. Those have been the hallmarks for the Joliet Rax Roast Beef fast-food restaurant's sustainability for 56 years and counting.

Turns out, Rax even sells souvenir T-shirts ranging from small to double extra large. The Joliet Rax sells visors, too, like the one Bucciarelli wore on Wednesday. A lifelong Joliet resident, Terry Bucciarelli has owned and operated Joliet's one and only Rax Roast Beef since it opened back on March 25, 1968. Fifty-six years ago, Joliet became the fifth Rax Roast Beef restaurant to open in the United States. At one time, Rax had roughly 500 restaurants scattered across the country. But as the decades passed, in many other parts of the country, Rax restaurants closed.

As for 2136 W. Jefferson St., in the Marycrest Shopping Center, "this was always right up there, top three, sometimes, we would be number one," Bucciarelli told Joliet Patch. "Food is food, but it depends on consistency. We have a great, great, staff. Some of the girls have been with me over 30 to 35 years, so the food is very consistent and very few complaints."

Walt's Ice Cream: Rainbow Cones, Superman, Turtle Sundaes And More

Joliet may be the home of the world's first Dairy Queen, back in 1940, but this is not a Dairy Queen town. Walt's ice cream rules the City of Champions. Walt's has been serving ice cream cones, sundaes, shakes and more since April 1926. Walt's is 98 years old, and stronger than ever.

Owners and brothers, Bill and Mike Dillon, told Joliet Patch that Walt's has had eight consecutive years of record sales. "We've been fortunate. The customers have been extremely loyal to us," Mike Dillon remarked.

Their family opened the original storefront at Joliet's Six Corners intersection near Ruby Street and Plainfield Road before moving to 1314 W. Jefferson St. in 1989.

Hey! Hot Dog Opens Sweet Corn Stands: 'Really, Really Good Stuff'

One of Joliet's long-running iconic restaurants, Hey! Hot Dog on Ruby Street, marked another milestone, as Friday marked the first day in 2024 that customers can also purchase Hey! Hot Dog owner-farmer B.J. Uedelhofen's home-grown sweet corn.

The "SWEET CORN" sign is back, prominently positioned along Ruby Street in the parking lot of Hey! Hot Dog. Over on Black Road in Shorewood, Uedelhofen's son Logan is managing their second sweet corn stand, a few blocks west of the ALDI grocery store and the Home Depot.

The Uedelhofen family farms in the Shorewood area.

"Same as last year, really, really, good stuff," B.J. Uedelhofen assured Joliet Patch's editor when asked about his sweet corn. "We're definitely very excited to start selling some sweet corn," he continued.

Merichka's Dressing Now For Sale; Will Garlic Butterine Be Next?

Merichka's legendary restaurant at 604 Theodore St. has been making history since opening April 18, 1933. Now, after more than 91 years of business, Merichka's has reached another milestone: the Merichka's House Dressing — described on the bottle label as "the perfect finishing touch to any salad," will now be available at several Will County area grocery stores.

Berkot's Super Foods is stocking its grocery store shelves with Merichka's House Dressing. The salad dressing will be available for purchase by the end of this week, according to Merichka's co-manager Joe Zdralevich III.

In Illinois, Berkot's has 15 locations including stores in Braidwood, Lockport, Coal City, Manhattan, Manteno, Mokena, New Lenox, Peotone and Wilmington.

"It's a big deal for us. For 91 years, we really have not ventured out of our walls," Zdralevich remarked during Tuesday's Joliet Patch interview. "By the end of this week, it will be available at all Berkot's locations."

Zdralevich said the idea of selling the Merichka's House Salad at grocery stores has been in the works since around 2019.

75 Years In Joliet: 10 Photos Of ACE Drive-In Opening Day

For the first time this year, the parking was full at 1207 Plainfield Road as Joliet's ACE Drive-In opened for its 75th year of business. Over the lunch hour, the kitchen was busy as third-year owner Mitch Pierson and the staff worked to keep up with all the food orders on April 8, their first day of business for 2024.

ACE is now open seven days a week until closing during the fall, either in September or October. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Remember, ACE only accepts cash. There are ATMs at some of the nearby businesses along Plainfield Road, according to the owner.

During Monday's first day of being open in 2024, customers were ordering plenty of hoagies, sliced beef on a bun, sliced beef poor boys, cheeseburgers, double cheeseburgers and more. ACE features a triple cheeseburger, a double steak burger, a triple steak burger, plus there's the chili burger, double chili burger or, in the alternative, you can order a bowl of chili.

And practically everyone who patronizes ACE orders their root beer. You can order ACE root beer in small, large or a 32 ounce quart. ACE root beer and lemonade is also sold in half gallon containers or by the gallon.

ACE has been open in Joliet since 1949.

1950s Joliet Gas Station Offers Historic Route 66 Nostalgia: Photos

Gas stations are gas stations — they're all the same, right? Not so, especially for customers who pass Joliet's intersection of Broadway and Theodore Streets. This is where Terry Lambert has turned his family's gas station into Lambert 1957 Mobil & Convenience Store.

The north wall of his building is a giant mural showing what the Standard station looked like in the 1950s. For motorists passing through Joliet during their historic Route 66 tour across America, Lambert 1957 is a must place to stop, especially for a photo-op.

The inside of Lambert 1957 is filled with a photo collage showing the transformation of the Joliet gas station over the decades.

And get this, Lambert 1957 even grinds and blends its own coffee brand for customers.

"We are honoring Helen's dedication by making her the face of our Lambert 1957 special blend premium coffee. It was inspired by Helen. She was a consistent coffee drinker who enjoyed a nice cup of coffee," the display reads. "The year 1957 is when Dan and Helen opened this business. We remember that year and incorporate 1957 in many ways throughout the store. This includes the name of our signature premium coffee blend, Lambert 1957."

Joliet Rededicates Route 66 Park: 8-Foot-Tall Steelman Statue Coming

Mayor Terry D'Arcy led October's press conference to re-dedicate the Route 66 Park at the Broadway Street Greenway. The Route 66 Park is considered a major tourist stop and there are now new signs at the entrances and on the nearby Rich & Creamy Ice Cream stand building.

The improvements also feature several new interpretive signs detailing Joliet’s history and enhanced landscaping. Notable selfie opportunities include a giant neon Route 66 shield and a large “Greetings from Joliet” postcard.

By the early 2000s, the city successfully transitioned the land just north of Ruby to Ingalls into a 7-acre linear park that included this ice cream stand, which many of you may remember as Kreamy Delight," Mayor D'Arcy told everyone.

The Route 66 Park also features a 1/3-mile paved path meandering through the Greenway and a playground. In 2007, the city received a state tourism grant to add Route 66-themed elements, officially branding this site as Route 66 Park.