Arby's plans New Lenox incursion

On the heels of Arby's shutting down its Joliet restaurant, it has come to light that the fast food company has designs on setting up shop in neighboring New Lenox.

Arby's plans to open its new franchise on what is currently an unincorporated pair of land parcels at the southwest corner of Route 30 and Tonell Avenue.

The property is near the town's Walmart.

A public hearing for annexation of the property was opened at Monday night’s New Lenox Village Board meeting and will continue at the board’s Feb. 24 meeting, at which time the annexation agreement will be presented, said Mayor Tim Baldermann.

A site plan for the restaurant with a drive-thru will likely also come to the board for consideration at that meeting, Baldermann said.

There is a vacant residence on one of the two land parcels and no structures on the other.

Village leaders want to be sure to give the residents of the unincorporated homes south of the property an opportunity to voice their concerns about the project, Baldermann said.