A popular Midwest restaurant that serves Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs has signed a lease to open a new location around 20 miles south of Marion County.
According to Villages-News.com, Portillo’s is working on a new location in downtown Middleton, which is part of the newest expansion in The Villages.
Founded in 1963 in Villa Park, Illinois, there are currently over 70 Portillo’s locations across multiple states, including many in Chicago and the Midwest.
Across the state, there are currently eight Portillo’s in operation. The Portillo’s nearest to Marion County is located in Clermont, around an hour south of Summerfield. That Portillo’s, which is the only one in Lake County, opened in 2024.
The company opened its first location in Orlando in 2021, and its second location in the Orlando area in January 2023. In December 2024, it opened its third location in the Orlando area.
That same month, the company announced that it was working on a new location in Lutz, marking its third in the Tampa area, where the brand got its start in the Sunshine State.
In Ocala, multiple residents have written in to Ocala-News.com over the past year lending their support behind a potential Portillo’s in Marion County.
“How about bringing a Portillo’s to Ocala on State Road 200,” reads a letter from Tom Hess sent to Ocala-News.com last June.
“I’m putting up my request for Portillo’s to seriously consider opening in Ocala. And encouraging everyone else who are fans of Portillo’s to speak up,” reads a letter from Charles George submitted last December.
For those in Marion County who are unable to make the drive to Clermont, the company offers nationwide shipping.
Will you make the trip to The Villages when the new Portillo’s opens? Do you want to see Portillo’s expand into Marion County? Share your comments below or, if you have more to say, write a letter to the editor.