Metro Denver residents hungry for Chicago street food could soon have several options for a Portillo’s Italian beef or hot dog, according to Thornton and Littleton city planning documents.
The Illinois company first teased expanding into Colorado in 2023 and in February 2024 submitted plans to open a restaurant in Green Valley Ranch near Denver International Airport.
Portillo’s submitted a letter of intent to Thornton’s planning department in August, city records show, with the goal of opening a restaurant at 251 E. 136th Ave, near In-N-Out Burger, Raising Cane’s and the Denver Premium Outlets shopping center.
Company officials also sent a letter of intent to Littleton’s planning department in September detailing plans to open a restaurant at 700 W. Mineral Ave., which is the former Lumen Technologies property.
A Portillo’s spokesperson declined to comment on Colorado expansion plans, but company CEO Michael Osanloo told investors in 2023 that Colorado puts up “huge” numbers of shipping orders.
Coloradans who can’t wait for a local store to open can still order meal kits for hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and even a whole chocolate cake online.
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