Portillo’s

  • 1963Dog HouseThe first Portillo’s hot dog stand known as “The Dog House” opens in 1963 on North Avenue in Villa Park. Owner and founder Dick Portillo invests $1,100 into a 6′ x 12′ trailer without a bathroom or running water. To get the water he needs, he runs 250 feet of garden hose from a nearby building into the trailer. 
  • 1967New LookBy 1967, “The Dog House” is a success and is ready for a new look. It is renamed “Portillo’s” and moves to a new building. 
  • 1983First Drive-ThruPortillo’s first drive-thru opens in Downers Grove, IL. Almost immediately, Portillo’s becomes known for speedy drive-thru service. 
  • 1985Featured in ForbesFounder Dick Portillo is featured in Forbes Magazine as an “Up and Comer” for leading Portillo’s to success in the Chicagoland area.
  • 1993Barnelli’s is IntroducedThe Barnelli’s Pasta Bowl concept is introduced inside an existing Portillo’s restaurant. The concept features a variety of pastas with homemade sauces, gourmet salads, and hand-made sandwiches.
  • 1994First Chicago OpeningAfter years of requests from fans, Portillo’s opens in Chicago at the intersection of Clark and Ontario Streets. Many of the items inside the store are purchased from the original Chicago Stadium, including the original Chicago Blackhawks 1938 Stanley Cup banner.
  • 1994Entrepreneur of the YearDick Portillo is named Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. Magazine.
  • 1999Portillo’s Home KitchenPortillo’s Home Kitchen Catering begins. Catering deliveries are made for the first time the next year.
  • 2000Nationwide ShippingPortillo’s begins shipping food to all 50 states. Residents in states outside of Illinois finally have a way to enjoy Portillo’s food without taking a long road trip.
  • 2005Portillo’s in CaliforniaPortillo’s expands outside of Illinois for the first time with a restaurant in Buena Park, California. Later, in 2008, Portillo’s opens in Moreno Valley, California.
  • 2006Portillo’s in IndianaPortillo’s opens its first restaurant in Indiana by opening in Merrillville.
  • 2013Portillo’s in ArizonaPortillo’s opens in its fourth state: Arizona. The line of people outside the building before the grand opening in Scottsdale exceeds 500 people. The Portillo’s in Tempe opens just a few months after Scottsdale.
  • 2015ExpansionWith several new restaurants planned for the Chicagoland area and beyond, it’s a great time to be a Portillo’s fan. Under Dick Portillo’s continued guidance, we’re committed to bringing our quality food and service to new markets around the country.
  • 2016Portillo’s Expands to Two New StatesWe open two restaurants in the sunshine state: Brandon and Tampa, FL. We also open a restaurant in Wisconsin for the first time, with our new location in Brookfield. We debut the “Badger Brat” in WI, a unique item only available at Portillo’s in Wisconsin.
  • 2017Portillo’s opens 50th locationWe expand to Minnesota, opening our 50th location in Woodbury, a suburb of St. Paul. We also open our second Wisconsin location in Greenfield, and added two locations south of Chicago in Champaign, IL, near University of Illinois and Normal, IL, near Illinois State University. We also launched delivery in November, making Portillo’s available on demand at most locations nationwide.

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