Hollywood Casino Joliet plans to open in August

The new Hollywood Casino Joliet will open Aug. 11, pending regulatory approvals, Penn Entertainment announced Wednesday.

“The countdown to the opening of our newest casino begins today,” Jay Snowden, chief executive officer and president for Penn, said in a news release announcing the opening date.

Penn previously had estimated the opening of the casino for the fourth quarter of this year.

The casino is being built in the Rock Run Collection development at Interstates 55 and 80.

The $185 million project is described as an anchor for Rock Run Collection, which is being designed as a regional attraction expected also to include retailers, restaurants, hotels and offices along with apartments also under construction and two warehouses previously built.

The casino will feature about approximately 1,000 slot machines and 43 live table games, including a baccarat room and a retail ESPN BET sportsbook.

Other features include a 10,000-square-foot event center with meeting areas and roughly 1,330 parking spaces.

Hollywood Casino expects to open with 600 employees, expanding its number of workers in Joliet by 200.

“The move from our existing riverboat significantly improves our offerings in the highly attractive Chicagoland market, and both our existing customers and new guests will be able to enjoy premier gaming, dining and entertainment at this exceptionally accessible new location,” Snowden said in the release.

The Hollywood Casino Joliet also will have new restaurants, including celebrity chef and Giada De Laurentiis’ Sorellina by Giada.

Penn has partnered with McClain Camarota Hospitality to bring Chicago chefs and restaurants to a Boulevard Food & Drink Hall at the new Joliet casino, according to the release.

The Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will include Lucky Goat, a new burger concept from celebrity chef Stephanie Izard; Antique Taco, the first suburban location for the popular gourmet taco restaurant; and Pretty Cool Ice Cream, which has Chicago locations in Logan Square and Lincoln Park; and Five50 Pizza, a “New York-style meets Neopolitan pizza concept,” according to the release.

“We’re thrilled to partner with these elite restauranteurs to bring amazing dining options to the new Hollywood Casino Joliet,” Todd George, executive vice president of operations for Penn, said in the release. “These concepts will create a vibrant atmosphere throughout the property and provide our patrons with an array of food and beverage offerings that are unmatched in the market.”