Portillo's Submits Plans for Its First Colorado Location

Last October, Chicago-born Portillo's became the latest chain with a cult following to announce that it might be making a move to Colorado. Now we know where the first one could open.

As reported by BusinessDen, the brand known for its Italian beef and Chicago-style dog "submitted plans to the city last week proposing a 6,250-square-foot restaurant on nearly two acres of land at the northwest corner of 57th Avenue and Tower Road in Green Valley Ranch," near Denver International Airport.

While the news doesn't come with any solid timeline, it has a lot of people salivating — and rightfully so. Portillo's isn't just good for fast food, it's just plain good. The last time I was in the Chicago area, we made sure a Portillo's pit stop was on the itinerary and ordered a spread with all of the staples, including my personal favorite: the super-crispy onion rings dipped in cheese sauce.

New In-N-Out locations in the metro area still draw crowds — the chain's tenth outpost in the state is coming to 495 West Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs. The 2022 Colorado Springs debut of the state's first Whataburger since the 1970s got a lot of people excited, too. If and when Portillo's does add a location here, it's sure to attract a lot of attention.

Last year a Philadelphia-born favorite, PrimoHoagies, made its Denver area debut; it now has outposts on Leetsdale Drive and in Centennial. The latest buzzy out-of-state expansion is Buc-ee's, the Texas-based travel center that's way more than just a regular gas station. It's opening in Johnstown next month.
But what other (actually good) chains is the state still missing? My number-one wish is for Publix to start expanding west. If you've ever had the pleasure of eating a chicken tender sub from this Southern grocery-store chain, you know why. Wawa is another East Coast store known for its sandwich game. 

Westword staffers say the chains they miss from their native states include Jeni's Ice Cream, Jollibee, Cook Out, Zaxby's, Bojangles, Checker's and Pret a Manger.

What would you add to the list? Send suggestions to [email protected].