Joliet Aurelio's Closes Dining Room For Major Remodeling: Here's When It Will Reopen

JOLIET, IL — The Aurelio's Pizza restaurant on West Jefferson Street has been one of Joliet's most enduring restaurants for decades, but this week you can't walk inside the restaurant and sit down at a table. The dining room is closed. It's off limits to the public.

"We will be closed the month of September remodeling," reads the sign on its front door.

However, the month-long closure of the dining room doesn't mean you can't order your Aurelio's Pizza.

"Carryout will stay open!" the sign reminds potential customers.

Major changes — huge changes —are underway this week inside the Joliet Aurelio's. New owners have acquired the Joliet restaurant from long-time owner Luke Pascale.

"We Still Have Carryout And Delivery And Still Do $5 slices Daily"

During a 2021 Joliet Patch story, Pascale said at the time that he was in his 13th year as the owner, and running Aurelio's Pizza remained an everyday challenge, he said.

"The restaurant business is hard, man," remarked Pascale during an October 2021 interview. "I don't think people realize what they're getting into sometimes. There's a lot to deal with, a lot to know."

The family pizzeria originally started by Joe Aurelio in 1959 in Homewood.

The new owners formed a corporation called Uppercrust 3101 LLC and on Tuesday night, the Joliet City Council unanimously approved the issuance of a Class B liquor license for the new owners of Aurelio's.

On Wednesday afternoon, Joliet Patch interviewed Kelly Fite, the do-it-all manager of the Joliet Aurelio's restaurant. She wanted everyone to know that despite her dining room being closed for all of September, "we still have carryout and delivery and still do $5 slices daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m."

Long-time customers — and new future customers — will love the new dining room for the Aurelio's once the remodeling project is finished, Fite predicted.

"It's Going To Be A Brand New Atmosphere"

Under the new owners, Aurelio's will be offering a new liquor menu, video gaming eventually, new daily specials and new menu items.

As far as the new dining room, "it's going to be opened up," Fite explained. "We're revamping the sports bar. New lighting, new floors. It's going to be a brand-new look. It definitely needed to be updated. We hope to have it done during the third week of September, but we're saying a month."

Not only does Fite work as the manager, she also works as a server and bartender. The new owners acquired the Joliet Aurelio's at the end of July.

"I've seen the renovations (plan) and the changes to the menu," Fite remarked. "It stays the same Aurelio's food, we're just bringing new items to the table and a new atmosphere. It's going to be a brand-new atmosphere."

Fite wanted everyone to know she will remain at the Joliet Aurelio's under the new ownership team. She is well-known in Brian Bessler's Joliet Area Bar and Restaurant Guide for her frequent social media posts promoting the Aurelio's lunch buffet and other food specials.

"Kelly will still be here," she said of herself. "And we'll have the same great food, but we're bringing new varieties in food, drinks and the sports bar atmosphere. And we'll still have a cozy restaurant atmosphere."

Related Joliet Patch coverage of Joliet's Aurelio's Restaurant:Aurelio's Pizza For Sale In Joliet: 'The Business Is Turnkey'

Aurelio's Pizza Owner: 'I Went About 3 Weeks Without A Day Off'

Aurelio's Pizza Buffet Off To Good Start: Luke Pascale