Bill Dimitroulas Opening Downtown Joliet Art Gallery, After More Taxpayer ‘Business Continuity Grants’

JOLIET, IL — While Joliet’s taxpayers are paying more in property taxes this year, downtown Joliet’s biggest restauranteur, Bill Dimitroulas, continues obtain more of City Manager Beth Beatty’s Business Continuity Grants. And in less than two weeks, Dimitroulas will be celebrating the grand opening of his downtown art gallery, Joliet Patch has learned.

The name of Dimitroulas’ new art gallery is Atelier Joliet Art Gallery. He’s taken over the corner store property at Clinton Street and North Chicago Street. A small convenience store operated inside the building for the past several years before Dimitroulas acquired the property.

The new art gallery is across the street from the back entrance to the Joliet Public Library.

At Monday’s discussion-only session, Joliet’s City Council learned that Dimitroulas has applied for a $63,734 Business Continuity Grant to help keep CUT 158 in business. Joliet’s community development director Dustin Anderson has urged the Council to approve the $63,734 grant at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The latest grant for CUT 158 covers the time period of January until June of this year. According to Anderson’s memo, on Dec. 17, 2024, Joliet’s City Council approved Resolution 8095 to establish the Chicago Street Business Continuity Grant program. This program provides financial assistance to businesses on Chicago Street that have been directly impacted by the public construction project that began in May 2024. The applicants are eligible for assistance of up to 50 percent of their lost tax-generating sales, with a cap of $100,000 per year.

Prior to voting on the $63,734 grant for CUT 158, Joliet has awarded $36,551 to a total of four businesses so far in 2025, Anderson outlined. City manager Beth Beatty has authority to approve up to $25,000 and fund the first $25,000 of any grant greater than $25,000. Grants greater than $25,000 go to the City Council for approval.

As for his ARKAS Restaurant Group, Dimitroulas opened and acquired his restaurant group long before the city of Joliet decided to tear up North Chicago Street to install new water mains, utilities, brick pavers and create the new city square.

New Art Gallery Featuring Fine Art Opens On Dec. 12th

On Dec. 12, Bill Dimitroulas is opening his new downtown art gallery called Atelier Joliet Art Gallery. Image via John Ferak/Patch

In November, when Joliet Patch first broke the news of CUT 158’s latest Business Continuity Grant request, Patch reported that CUT 158 would remain the highest Business Continuity Grant recipient since the Joliet City Council established the program last year. The taxpayer-funded payments to CUT 158 alone would now total at least $141,505.

Dimitroulas owns three of the downtown Joliet restaurants and bars that have received significant taxpayer funding through the Business Continuity Grants. In addition to CUT 158, Dimitroulas operates Juliet’s Tavern and Mousa Greek Tavern.

Dimitroulas attended Monday night’s pre-Council meeting, but he did not speak at the podium. Meanwhile, he and other Joliet business supporters have announced on social media that Dimitroulas is opening his own downtown art gallery in less than two weeks.

This past weekend, Tom Grotovsky, owner of the Curator’s Cafe on Ingalls Avenue, announced that “On December 12, downtown Joliet is going to make a great change for the better thanks to Bill Dimitroulas. He is opening a new art gallery with fine art at 150 Chicago Street. Deanna Gibson will be curating the show and opening celebration showcasing the very talented Iwona Duniec. Make sure you put this on your calendar.”

On his own Facebook page, Dimitroulas shared his own announcement for Atelier Joliet Art Gallery’s opening night. He let everyone know that “we invite you to an intimate evening of art, ambiance and celebration. Just us as we showcase curated works accompanied by light hors d’oeuvres and champagne.”

The opening night event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 at 150 North Chicago Street. Dimitroulas has set up a website to promote his new art gallery that you can visit here.

As for Dimitroulas’ Business Continuity Grants from City Hall, prior to Tuesday night’s vote on the $63,734, the following grants were already approved and paid out to him:

Cut 158 Seeks Another Business Continuity Grant Of $63,734 From Joliet’s Taxpayers

CUT 158 New Restaurant: ‘This Is a Game Changer For Downtown Joliet’

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