It’s been at least 40 years since the suburbs have had a taste of one of the West Coast’s favorite burger places.
But take one look at the recently refreshed site of a former Arby’s restaurant along Ogden Avenue in Naperville, and it’s clear — Jack in the Box is almost back.
The California-based fast-food chain is set to open in August at 1600 E. Ogden Ave., according to Jack in the Box’s website. The shop is one of eight company-operated restaurants set to open across the suburbs and the city this year, the company said in a media release.
“This strategic expansion into Chicago allows us to not only satisfy long-standing customer demand for our brand, but also to become a key member in the region’s thriving restaurant scene,” Darin Harris, CEO of Jack in the Box, said in the release.
The Naperville restaurant plans to offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts with a drive-through lane, the company’s website said, with customer favorites including burgers, tacos, chicken sandwiches and milkshakes. Jack in the Box is known for 24-hour operations and a menu the company describes as “craveable” and “iconic.”
It was unclear from the Naperville location’s webpage whether this site will be open at all hours.
A spokeswoman on behalf of the company declined comment, saying Jack in the Box doesn’t “have any new information to share at this time.”
Jack in the Box this week hosted three days of job fairs at the Chicago Marriott Naperville hotel, hoping to hire full-time team leaders with experience in the restaurant industry and team members to staff the new restaurant. In a ZipRecruiter posting, the company said it was seeking “enthusiastic individuals to lead our late-night team and join our regular shift operations.”
In preparing for the planned August opening, Jack in the Box received a commercial building permit for a new building or addition from the city of Naperville. The city issued the permit on March 6, spokeswoman Linda LaCloche said.
The restaurant joins an area of Naperville — one of the city’s eastern gateways — that has undergone transformation, streetscape improvements and beautification in recent years. Located just east of Ogden’s intersection with Naper Boulevard, Jack in the Box will join other new or redeveloped sites in the area, including Costco, Amazon Fresh, several restaurants and the Casey’s gas station and convenience store.
Marie Wilson is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.