Cemeno's Reveals When It Opens At Inwood Rec Center: 2 Votes Near

JOLIET, IL — Three months after Joliet Patch broke the news revealing that Joliet's legendary Cemeno's Pizza planned an expansion to the Joliet Park District's Inwood Recreation Center, the Joliet City Council is ready to vote on the project.

At Tuesday night's meeting, the Council will vote on the proposed Class B liquor license for the owners of Cemeno's Pizza: Mike Cemeno, his sister Natalie and their sister Sue Schultz.

That same day, the Joliet Park Board will have a special meeting to approve a License and Concession Agreement Between the Joliet Park District and Cemeno’s Pizza, according to its agenda.

The new name of their business at Inwood will be called Cemeno's At The Park, according Schultz. Mayor Terry D'Arcy and deputy liquor commissioner Jim O'Connell are recommending the Council approve the liquor license for the second location for Cemeno's, 3000 West Jefferson Street.

Cemeno's would fill the vacancy created at the end of December by the departure of The Dock at Inwood. The owners of The Dock were not able to work out a new lease agreement with the Joliet Park District. Instead, they are moving their restaurant and bar business to Rick Trafton's hometown of Mokena.

On Friday, Schultz told Joliet Patch that they are hoping to have Cemeno's At The Park open for business by the end of May or early June. Schultz said that her son, Mark, will be the main manager for the Cemeno's At The Park.

It will be open seven days a week and plans are in the works to offer a breakfast menu as well as breakfast pizza and upgrade coffees for people using Inwood's Rec Center.

Also, pizzas by the slice will be sold at the Inwood location, too, she said.

One notable change to the Inwood property is that the screened-in porch area used by The Dock is being converted into a 4-seasons dining room, Schultz said.

"Everything is in place, and everything is rolling right now," Schultz said Friday. "We're looking probably at the end of May or early June."

Cemeno's Pizza will continue to be sold at the popular Taste of Joliet three-day music festival in late June. Cemeno's has been a long-time Joliet Park District business sponsor, and one of the key food vendors over the years at Taste of Joliet.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Cemeno's Pizza Expanding To Joliet Park District's Inwood Rec Center

Cemeno's Pizza Continues To Thrive In Joliet In 48th Year: Photos