New Lenox Chicago Dough To Close, Mexican Restaurant Coming Soon

NEW LENOX, IL — Chicago Dough Company owners will shutter the pizza makers' New Lenox location at the end of the month, with a familiar name and a new concept already preparing to move into the space.

Set to debut in the storefront at 1080 E. Lincoln Highway is Don Jose's Cantina and Taqueria—a dine-in Mexican restaurant to be brought to fruition by Anthony Nardo, owner of Joey's Red Hots. Nardo is joined by longtime friends Nick Iozzo of Mokena and brothers Ryan and Chris Kucala of Frankfort. The partners have dreamt up an affordable, authentic sit-down Mexican restaurant separate from the Joey's name and concept, Nardo said.

"This is a place we want everyone to feel comfortable coming to with family, or on a date night—whatever the scenario may be," Nardo told Patch.

A menu is still in the works, Nardo said, but customers can expect authentic, traditional Mexican dishes at family-affordable prices, he said. It will also feature a full-service bar including margaritas a selection of different tequilas, he added. Don Jose Cantina and Taqueria is the second sit-down Mexican restaurant recently announced for New Lenox. Also coming soon is El Sombrero, moving in to the space previously occupied by Pizza Hut.

Chicago Dough owner Gina Menza Waters said she believes Nardo and the concept will be successful in the spot her business has called home for 16 years. There's no huge catalyst, necessarily, for her and her husband Tim's decision to close, Waters said—just that it's probably time for them to end this chapter. The restaurant's last day is Dec. 31.

"It is what it is, unfortunately for us," Waters told Patch.

As longtime owners and operators of the location, the long days and 60-hour work weeks had taken their toll on the husband-wife duo. Waters and her husband relocated to Tennessee several years ago to be closer to their daughter, who attends college there. Since moving, they've struggled to find adequate help to steward their beloved New Lenox spot. The business wasn't running as smoothly as they'd hoped in their absence, Waters said.

"We had somebody that was going to be there to run it, that person ended up leaving," Waters said. "We struggled to find someone to run it. They weren’t running it like we would want it to be run.

"It’s hard to find people to run it the way we would have."

Waters, whose brother-in-law Michael Rose owns the business, said that after raising their son Jackson and daughter Samantha in New Lenox, it was time for them to move on. It was a tough call for Waters, and it took some time for her to come around to it, she said. She and her husband moved to New Lenox in 2001, just before the birth of their daughter.

"That’s been the beauty of this, we were able to have our kids grow up at our New Lenox location," Waters said. "It was really hard to leave, we really enjoyed New Lenox.

"Great place, I can’t say that enough—they’re top-notch. They—Mayor Baldermann, Emily Johnson (of the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce)—go out of their way to make sure not only the big businesses are happy, but the smaller, family-run ones, too. … They would look out for us always."

Chicago Dough is a family-run operation, Waters said, with locations also in Richton Park and Bourbonnais. Opened in 1976, Richton Park was the first and flagship Chicago Dough. Waters started working there at 16 years old. Partner Rick Payne operates that location, she said, and he's become like family. The Bourbonnais location is run by Tim Gordon. Both partner with Rose; those locations will remain open, she said.

The loss of the New Lenox location is deeply felt by Waters, who cherished being part of the New Lenox environment and business community. The support from Mayor Baldermann and other officials was essential to their success in New Lenox.

"They really make a difference for the businesses here," Waters said. "They’re sad we’re leaving, too. We just couldn’t find anybody. And that’s the sad truth."

It's fitting that New Lenox native and current resident Nardo is moving into the space. The Providence Catholic High School graduate also owns and operates a Joey's location in New Lenox, and will also soon add another to the roster, in Orland Hills.

Don Jose's will be a project special to he and his partners, he said.

"The opportunity presented itself to us, and it’s something we’ve been wanting to do the last couple years," Nardo said. "I feel the area is growing, a lot of people moving here. Tim Baldermann’s doing a great job bringing in a lot of new businesses in the area. It’s developing, and I feel like it lacks restaurants.

"There’s not a lot of choices—everyone jokes on social media about the chicken places. But they all do business, and they’re all good for New Lenox. I feel we do lack Mexican restaurant choices.

"It’s one of our favorite foods. ... it’s going to be something very special to us."

Nardo and his partners are working with a chef to design the menu. They'll also revamp the interior. He hopes to be open by May 5, 2024—Cinco de Mayo.

Waters said she is hopeful any longtime Chicago Dough staff might find a new home at Don Jose's. She would love to see familiar faces when they stop in on their visits to Illinois.

"Some of them have been there since we first opened," she said. "It's just so sad."

"It’s not as if we wanted this to happen, I wish we could have kept it going," she said. "We just appreciate and are grateful for all of our employees that have stayed with us during all of the transitions, grateful for the village of New Lenox.

"I wish Anthony the best of luck. I’m hoping they do very well, and take care of our little place there.

"I think they will be a great addition to New Lenox and will find success."