Joliet Restaurant Closes: Kitchen Equipment Now Up For Sale

JOLIET, IL — After being open for more than six years in downtown Joliet, the owners of Sunshine Mexican Cafe have called it quits. They posted a short video on Thursday with a sad Kenny Rogers song called "Goodbye" informing their thousands of Facebook followers of the tough news.

They included the following hashtags: #closed #forsale #equipmentforsale and #Jolieteast

Joliet Patch produced a handful of stories on Sunshine Mexican Cafe over the years. Owned and operated by Jessy and her husband Ruben Rodriguez, they first opened in September 2019. Their sit-down restaurant was at 406 N. Scott Street, near Jackson Street.

Sunshine specialized in breakfast and lunch. Sunshine Mexican Cafe also served as one of the food vendors in recent years during the Joliet Park District's annual Taste of Joliet late June music festival at Memorial Stadium.

"I'm sorry to see this," announced Miguel Villarreal, owner of Fritz's Pour House restaurant on Plainfield Road and Jody's Hot Dogs on Republic Avenue.

"Cheer up Ruben, you made a big change in that place and stayed strong for a good time, but you'll see that a new opportunity will come, if you could do it there, you'll do it a lot more elsewhere," remarked Yefte on the Sunshine Mexican Cafe Facebook page.

"Better times will always come. Cheer up Ruben soon he will get something better," responded Alfredo.

"Every time we pass my girl screams, 'mommy my birthday party' thank you very much for your service, God bless you!" wrote Ximena.