Joliet OKs New Dunkin' Restaurant, Rejecting City Manager's Advice

JOLIET — Beth Beatty, Joliet's City Manager, tried to warn the Joliet City Council not to vote in favor of adding another Dunkin' restaurant to the city, but on Monday night at the meeting, the Council rejected the former Chicago deputy mayor's wisdom. Instead, the Council voted 8 to 0, following the lead of east-side Councilman Cesar Cardenas, who voiced strong support for the redevelopment.

The Council unanimously voted in favor of approving a special use permit so that Dunkin' can turn the empty KFC Restaurant at 600 block of Collins Street.

According to Beatty's memo to the Council, on Oct. 25, the Department of Public Works received a formal request for a drive-thru facility for a proposed Dunkin’ Restaurant at 600 Collins St. The restaurant will be located on the site of the former KFC / Taco Bell Restaurant.

Umesh Patel, the owner of the proposed Dunkin' at 600 Collins St., also opened the Dunkin' at Joliet's Six Corners near Ruby and Raynor Avenue in May of 2022.

Patel said that the Dunkin's average time for a car in their drive-thru is about 80 seconds. He said that Collins Street averages 11,000 vehicles daily, while Six Corners has about 50,000 vehicles. He said there are no traffic problems at all with his Six Corners Dunkin' Restaurant location.

"So, we are fast, unlike other restaurant joints," Patel proclaimed prior to the Council's vote. "People come and go ... We are in the morning business, so we push the cars out faster ... now, we have 11 stacks, honestly, that's plenty for us right now.

"And it's also Collins Street. We are not at Six Corners, not a major, major traffic area," Patel insisted. "I'm just doing this Dunkin' because I already have a couple other locations in Joliet and Crest Hill area. I just want to protect my house, you know, so that's why I'm here."

Before the vote, Councilman Larry Hug reminded his colleagues that in Joliet's older sections of the city. They need to be more creative. Hug also pointed out that the former KFC has sat vacant on Collins Street for the past several years, with no business activity there.

"A lot of improvements are going to happen to this building," Patel told Hug in reference to the remodeling. "It's something that side of town will really appreciate that."

"I think that having a functioning, in this case, Dunkin' functioning restaurant, versus vacant, I think that's an easy choice," Hug remarked.

"Absolutely," Patel agreed.

At the time of the vote, Councilwoman Jan Quillman declared, "I agree. I think it's better to have a Dunkin' Donuts there than emptiness. And I know that the neighbors wanted it as well, so I'll vote aye."

According to city records, the former KFC building will be modified to allow the proposed drive-thru to extend around the west side of the building adjacent to Collins Street.

The building will be remodeled along with other site improvements. The City’s Planning Division reviewed the preliminary site plan and has no remaining outstanding items.

Prior to the vote, Beatty's concern about the Dunkin' project surrounded the potential of traffic congestion.

"Upon final investigation, the Department of Public Works has concerns related to traffic flow within the site as well as the potential for the drive-thru queue to back-up onto Liberty Street," Beatty wrote. "Due to these concerns, the Department of Public Works recommends denial of the drive-thru permit. Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council deny the drive thru permit for a Dunkin’ Restaurant at 600 Collins St."