New food and drink halls are to be built with the anticipated Hollywood Casinos in Aurora and Joliet.
Along with the upcoming Hollywood Casinos in these suburbs, the buildings will feature “boulevards” people can walk down to select various dining options. These will feature Lucky Goat, Chef Stephanie Izard’s burger restaurant, Antique Taco, Chicago-based ice cream Pretty Cool Ice Cream and Five50 Pizza which is New York-style meets Neapolitan pizza.
Chefs Shawn McClain and Richard Camarota with their company McClain Camarota Hospitality have partnered with PENN Entertainment, which owns the casinos, to bring these dining options. McClain has worked in cities including Chicago, and he has noticed a trend of chefs going out to the suburbs to seek even more opportunities.
“We want it to be an amenity for the community,” McClain said.
McClain and Camarota have been working together for nearly 20 years, going out to Las Vegas and expanding that culinary scene with MGM. One of their restaurants, Sage, was a fine dining experience in the city that received much praise.
Hollywood Casino and the listed restaurants are also holding a “Taste of Hollywood” event on Friday, May 2, from noon to 2 p.m. They will be giving out two free tacos at Antique Taco in Wicker Park and one free ice cream pop at Pretty Cool Ice Cream in Logan Square.
The Joliet location, at the Rock Run Collection development, is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the Aurora location will open near Chicago Premium Outlets and is slated for the first half of 2026. For more information, visit hollywoodcasinojoliet.com.
