Anytime the people of Michigan’s Great Southwest are queried by anyone, including simple tossed-out questions on Facebook regarding who they’d like to see establish a new restaurant in the area, there are at least a handful of folks who pine for a Portillo’s after having visited the popular restaurants around Chicago. Well, we don’t have one slated for Southwest Michigan yet, but those fans will at least find one within driving distance thanks to plans to set up shop in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Portillo’s, the fast-casual concept known for its menu of Chicago-style favorites, has announced details on its newest location at 5102 N. Main Street in Mishawaka, with plans to open in early 2018.
Keith Kinsey is CEO at Portillo’s. He says, “Since Mishawaka is so close to the Chicagoland area, a restaurant in South Bend is a great next step for us.” He adds, “Our team is excited to bring a new location to Mishawaka and cater to the students and staff at the University of Notre Dame.”
Once complete, the restaurant will feature a Prohibition-themed interior, drawing décor inspiration from the 1920’s era. The restaurant will also feature a bench from Notre Dame Stadium, as homage to the area’s Fighting Irish football team.
The 9,000-square foot restaurant will include seating for more than 200 guests, a seasonal outdoor patio, and drive-thru. Guests to the new Mishawaka location can enjoy all of Portillo’s classic menu items, including Chicago-Style Hot Dogs, Italian Beef Sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, fresh salads, and Portillo’s famous Chocolate Cake.
It was way back in 1963 that Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a small trailer to open the first Portillo’s hot dog stand in Villa Park, Illinois, which he called “The Dog House.” Years later, Portillo’s has grown to include restaurants in more than 50 locations across several states. The Portillo’s brand also includes Barnelli’s restaurants that serve award-winning ribs, pastas with homemade sauces, and fresh sandwiches, soups, and salads. Portillo’s ships food to all 50 states through their website at Portillos.com, and in fact, Portillo’s Home Kitchen is the company’s fast-growing catering business as well.
Fans of the Portillo’s brand can register for a chance to attend a sneak peek training meal prior to opening, and receive updates on the Portillo’s Mishawaka location by signing up at the link below.
http://www.portillos.com/mishawaka
For more information on the company, you can visit www.portillos.com or follow the restaurant on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
The accompanying architectural rendering depicts the plan for the new Mishawaka restaurant coming after the first of the year. It was provided by Portillo’s for illustration purposes.
