Naperville’s loss with be Aurora’s gain when the Texas Roadhouse steakhouse moves from its Naperville location off North Aurora Road to a higher profile spot on Aurora’s side of Route 59, filling the spot left vacant with Sweet Tomatoes closure five years ago.
Construction is underway on the new 8,000 square-foot restaurant at 986 N. Route 59, which is expected to open in February.
That will leave the Texas Roadhouse building at 2856 Patriot’s Lane empty. According to one real estate ad, the 7,193-square-foot restaurant was built in 2006 and has an asking price of $5 million.
The Texas-themed restaurant chain, known for its steaks, ribs and sides, operates more than 600 restaurants in 49 states, including suburban locations in Joliet, Bloomingdale, Countryside, Tinley Park and Mt. Prospect.
Sweet Tomatoes, a chain that specialized in soups and salads, closed all of its Illinois locations in 2016 when its parent company filed for bankruptcy.
Belle Tire
Tire/wheel/auto service retailer Belle Tire is expanding into Illinois, with one its first store grand openings set for Saturday at 1126 E. Ogden Ave. in Naperville.
The 100-year-old company is based in Michigan, and currently has 130 stores in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Its goal is to have 60 stores open in Illinois over the next three years, a company news release said.
Also opening is a store in Villa Park, with locations in Joliet and Shorewood to follow. Between now and 2022, they plan on have operations in St. Charles, Mokena, Orland Park, Aurora and West Chicago.
Belle Tire President Don Barnes III will be in attendance at the 10 a.m. Saturday grand opening celebration, during which there will be a ribbon-cutting, a flag ceremony conducted by the Naperville VFW Post and comments made by Naperville City Councilwoman Patty Gustin.
raguerrero@tribpub.com