Bet I know who picked this...... ;-)

Exactly- we need a good place. Not another fast food style place. When can we get a nicer, upscale restaurant like a Coopers Hawk or something similar?

Hardly John, the hot-dog is here to stay. Plus, they have great burgers and a lot of other options like ribs, pasta, and salads on their Barnelli's side. Have you ever even been to a Portillo's?

Wake up Lily. A few years back, before the economy tanked, I recall reading an article estimating that the population of New Lenox could reach 100,000 by 2025. Granted, that's been stifled by the economy. However, the fact remains that our town has the space available to make it happen at some point. Neighboring towns are land-locked and at or near full capacity -and there are other issues. We're no longer in the old New Lenox that you remember, and it's only going to keep growing.

As for Wal-Mart, it's a very nice store -way better than our K-Mart and even better than Target in many regards. White Castle was a welcome addition just as Portillo's. Moderation, that's the key. Eat greasy food occasionally, not all of the time. I do agree with others that we could use a nice, upscale place like a Cooper's Hawk, but Portillo's is just as welcome -just wait and see how much business they do. As for being overpriced, not for what you get. Their food is excellent. Best beef and dogs around. Plus, they have great burgers and a lot of other options like ribs and salads on their Barnelli's side.

Nicely put JP.
To add:
Lilly, what did you think was going to happen to New Lenox with a major tollway and a top 100 hospital? Old New Lenox is long gone.

You said it. Neighboring towns are land-locked and have been for years. This is why I built a home in New Lenox. To avoid traffic and large neon signs etc. This town has been here over 50 years and just started developing like this after our "Superhighway". Did you notice that highway never has traffic? Did you read the article about it being the least used multi million dollar expansion? Obviously we as tax payers have had to pay for this. The cost should justify the need. I do use the highway occasionally, but it only saves me 10 minutes and costs me $2.00. So yes, I am upset that this town is moving forward with expansions like this that do not bring in revenue but divide the revenue already created by hard working people who have lived here and developed businesses here for over 20 years in our community. Those people are my neighbors and fellow residents. I am lucky our jobs are not at stake for yet another place that makes our beautiful town look like the overdeveloped towns of Tinley Park and Orland! We already have many wonderful full scale restaurants in our town, that I'm sure appreciate our business. I'm not saying development is not necessary, but on this scale? People moved this far south to get away from all of the land-locked over developed towns, not to have franchises follow them. If I wanted that, I would have built my home 20 years ago in Orland Park, close to my job.

As for waking up JP, I did today to front page news of our mayor taking advantage of tax dollars for a disability while still working 3 jobs and running a 5k race this summer. So thank you very much for your opinion, but I will stick to mine on how a place was able to develop next to homes with 5 neon signs that obviously don't meet ordinance. I wonder now how we got Portillos and Mokena didn't? Can we say kickback to our town government? Or am I wrong about that too?

I remember Tim coming down to the VFW years back so smooch a few behinds. We had a few fundraisers this weekend and Tim was nowhere to be found...huh.