The popular Chicago-based Portillo’s restaurant chain has signed a lease to open a restaurant in The Villages.
Portillo’s has signed a lease to operate a 4,300-square-foot restaurant in the Cidery Building in downtown Middleton, the family community which is home to The Villages Charter School campus. An announcement was made by The Villages in Wednesday’s edition of The Villages Daily Sun.
Portillo’s is a Chicago-born chain famous for hot dogs, burgers and Italian beef sandwiches.
In 1963, Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a small trailer to open the first Portillo’s hot dog stand in Villa Park, Ill. which he called “The Dog House.” Years later, Portillo’s has become a brand synonymous with Chicago. There are now more than 70 Portillo’s locations in several states.
In 2024, Portillo’s opened a restaurant in Clermont.
Lady Lake commissioners were pitched a plan for a Portillo’s in 2023 on 3.51 acres along U.S. Hwy. 27/441, southeast of Tire Kingdom. Portillo’s remains in discussions with a developer for a Lady Lake location.