Will Dubuque Ever Get This Popular Chicago Hot Dog Joint?

I feel like I've become the king of waxing poetic about what kind of businesses, specifically restaurant, Dubuque needs. I've written about it once, I've specifically pleaded for a Wingstop to "take two" and try to make a comeback to the Tri-States, and now, a recent article about a popular Chicago eatery opening three more locations has me longing for it in Dubuque.

That hot dog joint is the famous Portillo's, which just announced three more locations will open in the Chicagoland area yesterday: locations in Algonquin, IL; one in Cicero, IL; and a pickup only restaurant in Rosemont, IL.

Growing up, there were four or five Portillo's within 15 minutes of my house. It was a place my mother and I frequented at least once a month. When I got my driver's license, and eventually went to college, there was one within minutes of my campus, and I ate there after final exams as a reward for my exhaustive weeks of studying.

While Portillo's has a plethora of locations in/around Chicago, they have steadily expanded to outlying states, such as Indiana, Wisconsin, and Arizona. But as of this writing, there is only one location in Iowa: Davenport.

My burning question: will we ever get a Portillo's in Dubuque?

Dubuque can be (and has been considered) Chicago's westernmost suburb. I have met many people who grew up in the area and I did and sought out Dubuque as a place to live, work, and raise a family. The Chicago connection runs deep, and a 25-minute trip to Galena, IL gives residents a taste of the big city.

Not to mention, at least domestically speaking, Portillo's foods are universally beloved. On top of their famous Chicago-style hot dog, they offer an assortment of burgers, Italian beef, salads, and delectable desserts.

I've always marveled at how no two Portillo's restaurants look the same. In a world where fast food/fast casual eateries are homogenizing their aesthetic appearances (look around: Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's all have similar outward and inward appearances), Portillo's stands out as daring their franchisees to be different. Some have décor resembling the Prohibition-era. Some look like retro diners. Others look like a hodgepodge of different time periods, but the food, service, and hospitality remains consistent.

I've gotten my order wrong at every food fast place. We all have. But with the volume of customers Portillo's serves on a regular basis, I've never once gotten my order wrong. That speaks to their staff's training and the successful systems they've put in place.

Would you eat at Portillo's if it came to Dubuque? What would be a great location?