JOLIET — New restaurants are coming to town this year, including Lou Malnati’s Pizza (carryout only) and a Chipotle Mexican Grill.

New restaurants remodeling old spaces for their business helped hike the number of commercial building permits issued in 2011, David Mackley, director of inspectional services, told the Land Use Committee last week.

Mackley gave a report on building activity.

The number of permits both for new construction and remodeling projects in 2011 was 3,913, up from 3,511 in 2010, Mackley reported.

Mackley said he could not name all the projects in the works for 2012, since some developers have yet to take permits. But, he said, “Believe me, we’ve got good things coming in 2012.”

Two of the bigger names coming to town are Lou Malnati’s and Chipotle. Lou Malnati’s is taking space for a carryout-only restaurant in the strip mall on the southeast corner of Route 59 and Theodore Street. Chipotle is going into an open spot at Louis Joliet Pointe, a strip mall outside of the Westfield Louis Joliet mall.

Other restaurants in the works include a Red Goose Bakery opening soon downtown and a barbecue place that will go into the former Hot Skillet on West Jefferson Street. And, there is the Paula Deen’s Kitchen, previously announced, coming to Harrah’s Casino.

Mackley noted also that the recent opening of Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery at the Westfield Louis Joliet mall has put the mall close to full occupancy.

Northeast Phoenix residents near Paradise Valley Mall will have a new place to watch their favorite teams compete.

A new Tilted Kilt is opening Monday at 4731 E. Cactus Road. Kerry Phelps, one of three owners, said he hired nearly 100 people for the new restaurant, near an Outback Steakhouse and other eateries.

"We wanted to fill out the rest of that corner. We all think that we'll be a big complement to each other," said Phelps, who partnered with John Young and Mitch Saltz for the newest location. "It's really going to make that corner a dining destination area."

Barrio Cantina and Grill vacated the space in April after disputes with the landlord over rent.

As the self-proclaimed “Best Looking Sports Pub You’ve Ever Seen,” the Tilted Kilt takes the Hooter’s mentality to a whole new level. Visitors to the Titled Kilt are greeted by scantily clad waitresses dressed in plaid, serving up cold drinks and good food. Now Indianapolis has its very first location of this national chain. With prime Indianapolis real estate between Lucas Oil Stadium and Banker’s Life Fieldhouse, this Indianapolis bar and restaurant offers fun times and fabulous women.

The Story

The concept for this successful Indianapolis restaurant originated in 2003. Not in Ireland, Scotland or England, but in Las Vegas, the capitol of sin in the United States. This modern American, Irish, English, Scottish sports pub is staffed with beautiful servers in outrageous uniforms. Knee-high socks, sexy and short plaid kilts and matching plaid bra under a white camp shirt tied to showcase midriffs. Now this Hooters-esque franchise is taking the Midwest by storm with its downtown Indianapolis location.

Here is what the restaurant president, Ron Lynch, has to say, “Tilted Kilt’s vision is to be the best, most respected, most recognizable and entertaining Sports Pub in America, through service and hospitality that is unrivaled.”

Four days after Super Bowl XLVI, Fox59 has learned two big Indianapolis conventions have inquired about using Georgia Street as part of their activities.

According to Chris Gahl, VP of Marketing and Communications for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, Gen Con and FDIC, which is a firefighter training conference in Indianapolis, are interested in using the space.

"Our annual customers have already expressed interest in seeing how we can activate this space for them. They're both saying, 'hey, this is (a) cool space. How can we utilize it?'," Gahl said. 

"If we could have it every year, we'd be more than happy to have it," Tilted Kilt Director of Marketing, Crystal Rightor said. 

Chandler, AZ (Feb 9, 2012) After finishing second in points in the SR1 UTV class in 2010, and winning the SR1 championship in 2011, Corry Weller and her title sponsor, The Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, are forging into new and exciting territory for 2012. Weller will be the first female racer to compete in a Pro truck class in the Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series (LOORRS), and she’s headed straight into one of the most competitive classes in short course racing.

“Having the opportunity to race in the Pro 4 Unlimited class is huge for us and our team.” says Weller. “Racing in such a high profile class, we now have the opportunity to offer our sponsors some serious national exposure and TV time, which is something we just weren’t able to offer before in the UTV classes.”

(KCEN)- Here in Central Texas Sunday was a night of football fun, food, and of course commercial watching.

Parking lots at many local bars and restaurants were packed by about 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon and you couldn't even get a table at Pluckers in Killeen without reservations.

It was similar just across the street at the Tilted Kilt, which was a full house as well.

Fans dressed in their teams colors and cheered on their own while managing to find time to taunt their opponents.

Cheers of "Go Pats go!" and "New York...yah!" were heard all around.