AVONDALE — Construction has finally begun on Chicago’s first Olive Garden.
The casual Italian dining chain was set to make its Chicago debut last summer, but delays put it behind schedule.
“I was worried they were going to make a liar out of me,” said Ald. Rey Colon (35th), who happily announced the chain’s arrival more than a year ago.
Adding to Colon’s concerns were reports that the restaurant chain was seeing declining sales and had stopped building new restaurants.
“I was getting worried, but they started ripping up the parking lot, so it's a good sign to me that they’re moving forward,” he said.
The 7,700-square-foot, $1.2 million restaurant is being built in the west parking lot of the Avondale Kmart, 3443 W. Addison St. A worker on site said it was expected to be finished in a month or so.
The restaurant will employ about 100 full- and part-time employees, and seat some 245 patrons.
A spokeswoman for the Orlando-based chain did not respond to requests for comment.
Though there are 10 Olive Garden restaurants in nearby suburbs, this will be the first in the city.
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