It took awhile, but Five Guys is finally opening a burger restaurant in Joliet.
The fast-food restaurant chain known for its red-and-white-checked decor, laundry list of free toppings and complimentary peanuts in the shell is filling the former KFC location at the corner of Plainfield Road and Hennepin Drive.
There's no opening date yet, in part because the company is "pretty much gutting the place" and installing all new equipment and seating, said Dave Mackley, director of building services for the city of Joliet.
According to the building permit issued by the city, the owners will be spending about $450,000 to renovate the structure.
For those unfamiliar with the family-owned chain, which got its start in Arlington, Va., in 1986, Five Guys prides itself on a small menu that's essentially limited to regular and "small" sizes of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, bacon burgers and bacon cheeseburgers and Kosher-style hot dogs that can be topped with bacon and/or cheese.
Unlike most fast-food restaurants, they also cater to a vegetarian crowd by selling veggie sandwiches and grilled cheese.
Among the 15 toppings you can add are green peppers, grilled mushrooms, A-1 Steak Sauce and pickle relish.
The chain has 1,000 restaurants in 47 states, and has plans to add 1,500 more, according to its Web site. There are 36 in Illinois, including two in Naperville, Bolingbrook and Orland Park.