Portillo’s coming to Normal

Portillo's
Portillo’s plans to open a location in Normal in 2017. (Photo by Sam Howzit)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Fans of Portillo’s Chicago-style hot dogs soon won’t have to travel to the Windy City to get their fix.

The iconic Oak Brook-based restaurant chain has announced on its website, Portillo’s plans to open its 48th eatery in Normal in 2017.

“Dance your buns off, Redbirds. Portillo’s is coming to town. This is not a joke,” Portillo’s said on its website, an apparent reference to an April Fool’s Joke story which the Vidette published last year.

“We know, we know: it’s been a long time coming. You’ve been peppering us with requests to come to Normal for decades, so let’s squash our beef – we’ll be there next year. Frankly, we can’t wait.”

A location or more specific opening date haven’t been announced.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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