BATAVIA – The Portillo Restaurant Group plans to turn the closed Bennigan's restaurant on Randall Road in Batavia into a new restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch.
"This is Portillo's newest concept," said Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke in announcing the plans during Monday's city council meeting.
Schielke said the Batavia restaurant will be one of the first to introduce Portillo's new concept.
Portillo company officials could not be reached for comment about the plans.
The Bennigan's restaurant at 521 N. Randall Road in Batavia closed in July 2008 after Bennigan's parent company, Metromedia Restaurant Group, had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Batavia restaurant opened in 2000.
The Portillo Restaurant Group operates a Portillo's Hot Dogs restaurant at 531 N. Randall Road in Batavia, just north of the closed Bennigan's restaurant.
"This looks to be a good spot to try it," Schielke said. "Portillo has a regional history of doing things very well."
Along with operating several Portillo restaurants throughout the area, Portillo Restaurant Group also operates Key Wester Grill and Hemingway's Bar in Naperville and Luigi's House in Aurora.
Other new restaurants also could be opening in Batavia soon.
"We continue to have ongoing discussions with several restaurants that want to build," Schielke said.
A deli called Ona's on the Avenue is being proposed for 3 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31) in downtown Batavia.
