Portillo's to expand with two new Colorado locations

Portillo's may soon open two new locations in Colorado, according to city planning documents from Thornton and Littleton. Residents in the Denver area could enjoy Chicago-style food like Italian beef sandwiches and hot dogs. The fast-food chain from Illinois showed interest in expanding to Colorado in 2023. They submitted a plan in February 2024 to open a restaurant in Green Valley Ranch, close to Denver International Airport. In August, Portillo's filed a letter of intent to open a restaurant in Thornton, at 251 E. 136th Ave. This location would be near other popular chains like In-N-Out Burger and Raising Cane’s. Additionally, in September, they submitted plans to Littleton, where they plan to open at 700 W. Mineral Ave, which is located at a former Lumen Technologies site. While a spokesperson for Portillo's did not comment on these expansion plans, their CEO mentioned in 2023 that Colorado has a strong market for shipping orders. For now, Coloradans who want a taste of Portillo's can order meal kits online to make hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and even whole chocolate cakes at home.