AVONDALE — Beloved Chicago chain Portillo’s, famous for its cake shakes, Italian beef sandwiches and hot dogs, has its sights on the Northwest Side for its third city location.
Portillo’s is working with Chicago-based developer GW Properties on a plan that would allow the restaurant to move into a single-story commercial building at 3357 W. Addison St., which is currently being used as a taxi outlet.
Currently, the site sits in a manufacturing district, a zoning designation that only allows for industrial and manufacturing use.
GW Properties is looking to amend the designation in order to open the restaurant, according to Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, whose 35th Ward includes the site.
The developer will pitch neighbors and the alderman at an upcoming community meeting set for 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Murphy School at 3539 W. Grace St.
Should the developer get the necessary zoning approval, the Avondale restaurant will be the chain’s third city location. The other two outposts are located in the South Loop and in River North. The chain operates several other locations throughout the Chicago suburbs.
A representative for Portillo’s declined to comment, saying, “We do not have any updates to share at this time. I’ll let you know if that changes.”
Mitch Goltz, principal of GW Properties, wrote in an email that the new location would fill a gap in the “iconic” hot dog chain’s market, adding: “I cannot comment yet on this but will soon.”