This Family-Owned Barbecue, Burger Spot Is Coming To New Lenox: Mayor

NEW LENOX, IL — A family-owned franchise known for its barbecue, sandwiches and salads is coming to New Lenox, set to build on space on Rte 30.

The Patio—owned by the Koliopoulos family—is adding New Lenox to its roster of six locations, Mayor Tim Baldermann confirmed Tuesday.

The family is set to build at 250 E. Maple St., the site of the former Silver Cross Professional building, which has been demolished in recent days.

"We flipped the property to them for the same price we paid, plus the demolition," Baldermann said. "It was a net zero for the Village. It didn’t cost us anything."

The restaurant is expected to be 8,000-9,000 square feet, with seating (indoor and outdoor) to accommodate 225-250 people, Baldermann said. It will also include a drive-thru.

"Started in 1977, we operate unique high-volume casual dining establishments that are famous for BBQ, but also offer an extensive menu that includes made to order salads, homemade burgers, and a variety of sandwiches," their website reads. "We take pride in using only fresh, high quality ingredients and cook everything to order."

The Patio's first location opened in 1977 on Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview. The Orland Park location opened in 1985. Other locations include Aurora, Bolingbrook, Darien and Lombard. The chain is owned by a father and his sons, Baldermann said.

"We met with the owners," Baldermann said. "Great people. It’s a great, family-owned restaurant. A lot of people in this community are familiar with Patio, they might have grown up with it—it’s nice to bring something that’s family-owned, that many, many people are familiar with."

The business touts it uses only the highest quality ingredients.

"We take great pride in using only the finest quality ingredients freshly-prepared the old-fashioned way," John Koliopoulos wrote on the website. "We never cut corners! Our famous barbecue ribs and rotisserie chicken are always cooked fresh throughout the day, and our signature smoked meats—sliced beef brisket, pulled pork, and pulled turkey—are seasoned and slow-cooked for hours. We make our own soups from scratch daily, and we even grind and patty our own hamburgers. The way we do things may require extra effort, but we believe you can really taste the difference!"

The restaurant will be a ground-up build, and the family is currently consulting with architects.

They are aiming for an opening in the fall of 2026, Baldermann said.

"We had one chicken place for years," Baldermann wrote on social media. "We added two more and the usual suspects said all we have are chicken places. We had one Mexican restaurant for years, added two more, and the same suspects said all we have is Mexican restaurants.

"In my never-ending quest to provide Facebook fodder for the keyboard warriors, our two BBQ places will be joined by a third in the Fall of 2026.

"... This family-owned restaurant has had a great reputation for years, and we’re really excited to see them call New Lenox home!"