A fast-food restaurant that specializes in fried fish, wings, shrimp and chicken is opening two locations in the City of Joliet.
The City Council Tuesday unanimously approved the opening of Sharks Fish and Chicken at two sites along with Class D licenses that allow for beer and wine consumption on premises only. City Manager Beth Beatty recommended the liquor license approvals.
Sharks on Raynor will open inside a commercial building that also houses Dunkin’ coffee shop at 800 N. Raynor Ave.
The second location will occupy space that was once home to 7-Eleven at 325 S. Larkin Ave.
Mayor Terry D’Arcy, also the city’s liquor commissioner, does not foresee problems with allowing patrons to consume beer and wine on premises.
He said the Joliet Police Department does not expect any “special law enforcement problems associated with the issuance of liquor licenses.”
But a woman and Joliet resident who spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting said the Larkin Avenue location has experienced issues in the past with people leaving the area drunk and causing noise issues when 7-Eleven was there.
Mayor D’Arcy noted that only beer and wine will be sold on premise and unlike 7-Eleven there will not be carryout liquor sales. Also, only 12 tables will be available for those dining inside.
Sharks, a Chicago-based establishment, already operates restaurants in Crest Hill and Bolingbrook.
While Joliet is gaining two new Shark locations City officials noted that Wendy’s at 110 S. Larkin Ave. has closed. The vacant property was put up for sale in November.
There are two other Wendy’s locations at Center and Jefferson streets and one near Louis Joliet Mall on Route 30. As of now, Shorewood has a Wendy’s on Route 59 near Black Road and Plainfield also has one on Route 59 near 135th Street.
In other City Council news, Joliet held a public hearing on a boundary agreement that prevents further expansion into nearby Elwood. No one was there to make any public comments.
This was the first boundary agreement discussion since 2019. That agreement made it possible for Joliet to annex large acres of land for the NorthPoint development warehouse project to the ire of Elwood officials. A vote on the potential agreement will be taken at a later date.
