Skokie is now home to the Midwest's first Jollibee restaurant, a fast-food chain from the Philippines boasting unique fare like "Chickenjoy" and "Jolly spaghetti."
The eclectic eatery opened Friday to much fan-fare, with the company announcing it was expecting thousands to line up before it even officially opened. The company said it planned to give away Jollibee mascot dolls to the first 300 people in line.
“It has been 18 years since Jollibee set foot in the United States and we are truly grateful for the unwavering support we have received throughout the years. Millions of customers have come in and out of our stores and it has been a joy for us to see how we bring happiness to families over good food,” said Jose Maria Minana, Jollibee Foods Corporation’s group president for North America and foreign franchise brands in the Philippines, in a press release. “We are so excited to serve the favorite dishes of Jollibee fans to more communities, bringing families together for great tasting food, happy moments, and the warm and friendly service that Jollibee has come to be known for.”
The Skokie location marks the 34th store in the U.S., officials said in the release, and the company touted it as part of its "aggressive international expansion."
Jollibee Foods Corporation also has investments in Highlands Coffee, Dunkin Donuts and Smashburger.
