JOLIET — For the first time since January, Joliet’s Land Use & Economic Development Committee will meet on Thursday, and the special meeting agenda is not focused on bringing new businesses or companies to Joliet. The agenda calls for more taxpayer-funded handouts to downtown restaurants and retail stores that are struggling to make it amid long-term construction on Chicago Street.
Thursday’s special meeting will consist of Joliet City Council members Cesar Cardenas, as chairman, plus Cesar Guerrero and Pat Mudron. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
If Joliet approves the latest funding sought by CUT 158 and Juliet’s Tavern, the Joliet taxpayers will have subsidized a total of eight downtown Joliet businesses for a grand total of $200,800 since the program was established by the City Council in December.
According to the agenda, Joliet’s community development director Dustin Anderson explained that CUT 158 Chophouse has applied for a subsidy seeking the most so far, at $77,771. Juliet’s Tavern, which is also operated by CUT 158 owner Bill Dimitroulas, has asked for a taxpayer subsidy of $57,748.
In addition to the two subsidies totaling $135,519 for Dimitroulas, a half-dozen other downtown Joliet businesses — including a third restaurant operated Dimitroulas, Mousa Greek Tavern — have sought and received financial relief approved by city manager Beth Beatty already.
Those subsidy amounts for 2024 included: $20,664 for Kula’s Jewelry & Loan; $13,108 for Internode Greenery and Home, a garden and house plant store operated by Michelle Arana; Chicago Street Pub at $11,156; Mousa Greek Tavern at $9,024; Prison City Vintage at $5,786; and AmaLove Boutique, which is described as “a charming clothing store” located at 152 N. Chicago St., at $5,543.
Chicago Street Construction Hits Businesses Hard
Back in December, Joliet Patch reported that Joliet’s City Council approved the program to fund various downtown Joliet businesses that were negatively impacted by the $20 million Austin Tyler construction project along a several block area of North Chicago Street, in the heart of downtown Joliet. Austin Tyler’s street repair and public infrastructure improvement project, which won’t be done until the spring of 2026, has involved tearing up streets and water mains, replacing them and the work includes the creation of a new downtown city square across from the Rialto Square Theatre.
For the most part, North Chicago Street has been closed to traffic since last May, making it extremely difficult for pedestrians to get around and visit places such as the Chicago Street Pub and Grill, CUT 158, the Prison City Vintage store and more.
Because of the ongoing construction mess, business continues to dry up for several downtown businesses as people from the Joliet area realize that driving to downtown Joliet isn’t such a good idea.
In December, Joliet Patch reported the Joliet City Council approved an initial allocation of $250,000 from the general fund to establish the Business Continuity Grant, where funds of no more than $100,000 will be disbursed to qualified applicants, under the program parameters and meeting approval from the Council or City Manager Beth Beatty. For grants of more than $25,000, Beatty has authorization to fund the first $25,000, city reports show.
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
$100,000 Taxpayer Subsidies For Downtown Joliet Businesses?
$80,054 In Your Tax Dollars Will Help 5 Downtown Joliet Businesses
