Portillo’s to open St. Pete location
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Nov 3, 2021

Portillo’s will soon open its first location in St. Petersburg in front of Tyrone Square Mall.

The fast-casual restaurant is known for its menu of Chicago-style favorites including hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, chargrilled burgers, the Portillo’s Famous Chocolate Cake and its cake shakes. The St. Pete restaurant at 2300 Tyrone Blvd. will be the fourth Portillo’s to open in Florida.

“Ever since we opened in Tampa, we’ve gotten requests from guests to come to St. Pete,” Michael Osanloo, CEO of Portillo’s, said in a release. “Guests have been coming to Portillo’s for our craveable food for years, and now we’re coming to them.”

The 7,800-square-foot restaurant will have seating for more than 190 guests with a seasonal outdoor patio that has seating for 50 people. There will be double drive-thru lanes at the location, which will be at the corner of 66th Street North and Tyrone Boulevard.

The company is hiring managers and shift leaders for the upcoming location; other team member roles will be open soon. The restaurant is expected to open in the first half of 2022.

In 1963, Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a trailer to open a hot dog stand called The Dog House in Villa Park, Illinois. There are now nearly 70 Portillo’s restaurants in nine states that all feature the 1950s and 1960s diner-themed décor.

In Florida, you can currently find Portillo’s in Tampa, Brandon and Orlando.