Olive Garden is officially on its way to Yorkville, with city officials confirming Tuesday that the national Italian chain is slated for a prime spot along busy Route 34 at Kendall Marketplace. The project is poised to be one of the larger new restaurant investments the city has seen in recent years.
According to WSPY, plans call for a roughly 7,800-square-foot Olive Garden at 978 Edward Lane, representing about a $5.4 million investment. The restaurant could open in 2027 and is expected to create about 50 full-time jobs, figures UIRVDA officials shared with the outlet.
Site confirmed in city records
Planning filings from the United City of Yorkville list 978 Edward Lane as Lot 4 in the Kendall Marketplace subdivision, identifying the parcel for commercial development near Route 34. The address and lot designation appear in the city’s planning and final-plat documents.
Enterprise-zone perks could trim construction costs
UIRVDA officials told WSPY that the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority approved an expansion of its enterprise zone to include parts of Yorkville to accommodate projects along Route 34, including the Olive Garden proposal.
UIRVDA notes that enterprise-zone projects can qualify for exemptions on sales taxes for building materials. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity outlines the state tax incentives that support those exemptions on its enterprise-zone page.
What comes next
Before any ground is broken, the developer will need to secure final permits, contractor bids and building approvals. Those applications will ultimately set a firmer construction timeline.
For now, city and regional officials say the enterprise-zone incentives were a key piece in making the Olive Garden project financially feasible. More details are expected to surface as permit activity hits the public record, giving residents a clearer sense of when those breadsticks might start baking.
