TL/DR –
Chicago-based chain, Portillo’s, brought its Beef Bus tour to Ann Arbor, serving locals their iconic Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian sandwiches among other things. The tour, which started on March 21, aims to promote their locations in Michigan, with a new restaurant set to open in Livonia following their Sterling Heights location. According to Mario LaPorta, a restaurant opening manager at Portillo’s, there are plans to expand to 1,000 locations across the U.S. within the next decade or so.
Portillo’s Beef Bus Tour in Ann Arbor
Portillo’s, a Chicago-based chain famous for hot dogs and Italian beef, introduced its Beef Bus tour to Ann Arbor’s food enthusiasts on Sunday. The bus, parked at South Main and East Liberty streets, attracted a large crowd.
The Beef Bus began journeying through southeast Michigan on March 21 and will continue until March 30, featuring a limited menu of iconic items. Included are Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian sandwiches, Maxwell Street Polish sausages, and cheese fries.
Mario LaPorta, a new restaurant opening manager at Portillo’s, explained the tour’s objective is to promote their Michigan locations. Portillo’s presently operates in Sterling Heights and is expanding to Livonia.
LaPorta said the Beef Bus has attracted public interest for a potential Ann Arbor location. The chain expects to have one thousand locations across the U.S. within the next 10 to 15 years.
“We’re expanding rapidly,” LaPorta said. “It’s all Chicago-style street food, unique in its offering.”
Ginny Miller, a law student and Chicago native, expressed her excitement about the Beef Bus visit to Ann Arbor. She compared it to Chicago’s In-N-Out, known for its enduring popularity.
An Ann Arbor local, Burt Diamond, endorses Portillo’s, believing the chain would succeed in Ann Arbor due to its uniqueness. “The food is really good,” Diamond said. “Consumer demand seems promising.”
LaPorta emphasized that Portillo’s is the only outlet offering a “true” Chicago-style hot dog in Michigan.
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