By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – Portillo’s is now hiring managers who will run their new restaurant in Normal, and local leaders expect they won’t have trouble attracting customers.
CEO Keith Kinsey said he expects sales to be a bit higher compared to other locations, but Normal Mayor Chris Koos predicts even greater success.
The mayor estimated the business will produce 400-thousand dollars a year in sales taxes, although the town has agreed to rebate $1.8 million over a few years to Portillo’s developer.
Speaking with WJBC after Thursday’s groundbreaking on Landmark Drive, Kinsey said the 200 full-and-part-time workers will not be landing dead-end jobs, but rather the opportunity to start careers.
“We can take somebody who is just learning how to do our stations, teach them how to read a P and L (profit and loss statement), teach them how to hire, teach them how to lead a team, teach them how to order food, and really give them a skill that’s going to carry them out.”
Most of the hiring will be done in the next 40 days.
The restaurant, known for its Italian beef, burgers, and chocolate cake, is expected to open in mid-August.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].
