Joliet Restaurant, Bar Closes Forever: Meg Gillespie Won't Reopen Thirty Buck, Magpie's Joy Of Eating

JOLIET, IL — After announcing that her sit-down restaurant was "closed indefinitely" for the past several days, Meg Gillespie, daughter of Joliet sports legend Gordie Gillespie, has made it official. On Thursday morning, she took to Facebook, saying, "it is with sadness and heavy heart that I make this post. Magpie's Joy of Eating and Gordie's Thirty Buck will not be reopening."

Meg Gillespie added that "I am grateful to my team for walking beside me in this journey of love. Thank you to my family and friends old and new for your support, love, laughter and joy. Until we meet again."

On Jan. 10, 2024, Joliet Patch published a story unveiling the opening of Magpie's Joy of Eating on Ruby Street. Patch reported that around Joliet, the late Gordie Gillespie was regarded as the winningest coach to ever come out of the self-proclaimed City of the Champions. His daughter, Meg, had returned to Joliet after 14 years in Clearwater, Florida as a private chef. Jan. 10, 2024 marked the official passing of the torch from the now-closed Thayer Bros. Deli, as Meg Gillespie opened her new sit-down restaurant, Magpie's Joy of Eating, at 753 1/2 Ruby Street.

Meg Gillespie assured Joliet Patch during the interview how she envisioned Magpie's Joy of Eating would become known as one of the absolute finest restaurants — not just for Joliet, but for the entire Will County region.

Magpie's Joy of Eating announced it would feature three different soups every single day. One will be a vegetarian offering. Another will be the chef's choice, and the third will be one of the late Anna Mae "Ann" Thayer's soups, Gillespie explained. Most often, that will be Mrs. Thayer's chicken noodle or her chicken dumpling recipe.

"It's been lovely. The regulars (from Thayer Bros. Deli) are just so happy that we're open," Gillespie said. "Our team has just done unbelievable. I kept Rick (Thayer's) team in the kitchen and I hired my niece, Ellen, she used to be at Truth Restaurant."

In June, Joliet Patch published a news story on Magpie's Joy of Eating in a story headlined, 'No Kings In Joliet': Magpie's Joy Of Eating Supports 'Peaceful Expression.'

Less than 48 hours before Joliet's No Kings rally against President Donald Trump gets underway at Larkin Avenue and West Jefferson Street, one of Joliet's fine-dining restaurants was speaking out in favor of Saturday's rally, which is expected to have a large turnout.

"This weekend, voices will rise in Joliet and we'll be listening. As the city comes together for the No Kings rally on June 14, know that Magpie's is here for you, just a few blocks away, with open doors, warm plates and a place to reflect, and reconnect," Magpie's Joy of Eating posted on Facebook.

"We support peaceful expression and believe that sharing food and ideas is one of the oldest, most powerful forms of community care."

Meg Gillespie's announcement closed with five different hashtags: #MagpiesJoyOfEating #CommunityTable #JolietEvents #NoKings #AllAreWelcome