The dynamic dining experience at the new land-based casino and hotel will now also include Urbanbelly and Tabo Sushi in its star-studded lineup 

 
CHICAGO (April 21, 2026) -- Hollywood Casino Aurora today announced, in partnership with McClain Camarota Hospitality (MCH), that the Boulevard Food & Drink Hall at its soon-to-open new location will feature two additional restaurants: Urbanbelly and Tabo Sushi. The two restaurants join the previously announced line-up that includes celebrity chef Stephanie Izard’s Lucky Goat, Antique Taco, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Five50 Pizza and Dailies. The all-new Hollywood Casino Aurora at 2500 N. Farnsworth Ave. is expected to open on June 24, 2026, pending customary regulatory approvals.  

To celebrate the news, this Saturday, April 25, Hollywood Aurora and MCH invite the community to get a “Taste of Hollywood” at Chicago Premium Outlets, 1650 Premium Outlet Blvd., from noon – 2 p.m. The event will feature free samples from Urbanbelly and Pretty Cool Ice Cream, photo opportunities and more, while supplies last. The event is free to attend. 

The pop-up, located just outside Hollywood Aurora’s career center at Chicago Premium Outlets, also will debut the Hollywood Oasis— a Hollywood Casino branded Airstream that will be featured at area events and in the new Hollywood Aurora’s outdoor entertainment area.  

“As we start counting down the days to opening, Hollywood Aurora is thrilled to offer this sneak peek to the community with delicious samples from Urbanbelly and Pretty Cool Ice Cream,” said Greg Moore, VP and General Manager at Hollywood Casino Aurora. “This pop-up event is a great way to officially rollout the Hollywood Oasis experience and help get people excited for our opening this June.”  

Urbanbelly, originally opened in Chicago by renowned Chef Bill Kim and his wife Yvonne Cádiz-Kim in 2008, features a creative, yet familiar menu of dumplings, noodles and more Korean-American dishes. That restaurant success led to Chef Bill publishing his “Korean BBQ” cookbook offering 80 recipes for home cooks to master. In addition to opening at Hollywood Aurora, Urbanbelly is expected to open a new Fulton Market location in May that will replace its Wicker Park storefront closing this month. Urbanbelly is part of the Cornerstone Restaurant Group, the Chicago-based hospitality company behind several celebrated dining concepts including Michael Jordan's Steak House, The Table at Crate, and most recent Italian concept Dimmi Dimmi. 

Tabo Sushi brings back the popular counter-service restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Takashi Yagihashi, formerly located in the Wells Street Market downtown Chicago. In addition to Tabo Sushi, Chef Takashi is the creative force behind acclaimed restaurants, including Michelin-starred Takashi and the more casual Slurping Turtle which operated until 2014 and 2019, respectively.  

“When MCH set out to create Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, we were excited to return to our roots in Chicago and reach out to some of our closest friends and greatest chefs we know. Building on the success at Hollywood Casino Joliet, we can’t wait to open our doors in Aurora with the additions of Urbanbelly and Tabo Sushi,” said Shawn McClain, James Beard award-winning chef and founder of MCH.   

Both Hollywood Casino Boulevard locations are designed and operated by MCH. Visit www.HollywoodCasinoAurora.com to learn more about the new entertainment destination and available job opportunities.  

About Hollywood Casino Aurora   

The new Hollywood Casino Aurora, expected to open on June 24, 2026, is being developed adjacent to the Chicago Premium Outlets, located near Interstate 88 in Aurora. The best-in-class facility will feature roughly 1,200 gaming positions, a premium hotel with 226 rooms, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, high-quality bars and restaurants including Sorella by Giada, an approximately 12,000 square foot event center with meeting areas and approximately 1,700 parking spaces. Hollywood Casino Aurora is currently on the Fox River, located near Interstate 88, in Aurora, Illinois. For more information, visit: www.hollywoodcasinoaurora.com.    

 

Media Contact:  

Jessica Gallen

[email protected]

312-995-8598

HOLLYWOOD CASINO JOLIET AND AURORA PARTNER WITH MCCLAIN CAMAROTA HOSPITALITY TO BRING PROMINENT CHICAGO CHEFS AND RESTAURANTS TO NEW PROPERTIES

James Beard Award Winner Shawn McClain’s MCH to Operate Boulevard Food & Drink Hall featuring Chicago culinary star Stephanie Izard, Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream

To celebrate, Chicagoans get a FREE “Taste of Hollywood” on May 2 from NOON – 2 p.m. at participating locations

CHICAGO, IL -- May 1, 2025 -- Hollywood Casino Joliet and Aurora are pleased to announce a partnership with McClain Camarota Hospitality (“MCH”) to bring prominent Chicago chefs and restaurants to the all-new land-based sites in Aurora and Joliet. The new Chicagoland locations will feature the Boulevard Food & Drink Hall (“Boulevard”), a dynamic dining experience highlighted by local favorites, including an all-new burger concept from celebrity chef Stephanie Izard alongside Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream. The Boulevard locations are designed and operated by MCH. 

To celebrate, Hollywood Casino and the featured restaurants are giving away a FREE “Taste of Hollywood” on Friday, May 2 from noon – 2 p.m., while supplies last. Enjoy favorites from each location alongside opportunities to receive Hollywood Casino and Stephanie Izard merch, enter-to-win giveaways, live radio remote and more. Participating locations include: 

• Two free tacos at Antique Taco Wicker Park at 1360 N. Milwaukee Ave. and Antique Taco Bridgeport at 1000 W 35th St.
• One free ice cream pop at Pretty Cool Ice Cream in Logan Square at 2353 N. California Ave. and Lincoln Park at 709 W. Belden Ave.

Boulevard will be accessible to all ages at the completely reimagined casino and entertainment destinations and will feature: 

• Lucky Goat— an all-new Stephanie Izard burger restaurant that will feature specialty burgers, fries, milkshakes and more.
• Antique Taco— the first suburban locations for the popular gourmet taco restaurant that will feature its signature handmade tacos, the customer-favorite Antique Taco Salad, chips and guacamole and salsa, and specialty drinks.
• Pretty Cool Ice Cream — the fourth and fifth locations for the contemporary ice cream shop, which also has storefronts in Logan Square and Lincoln Park along with a walk-up window opening in Lincoln Square this Memorial Day weekend that will feature its unique flavors of ice cream bars, popsicles and cookie sandwiches.
• Five50 Pizza — a New York City-style meets Neapolitan pizza concept offering a fun, casual experience from the fine-dining chefs at MCH.

Boulevard at Hollywood Casino Joliet, currently being constructed at the Rock Run Collection development and expected to open in Q4 2025 (subject to regulatory approval), also will feature a breakfast and bakery counter serving locally roasted Big Shoulders Coffee, a mid-century Hollywood inspired bar with local brews and on-tap signature cocktails, and seating options for more than 100 guests indoors with additional seating on the seasonal outdoor patio.

MCH was founded by Midwesterner Shawn McClain, a renowned James Beard Award winning chef. His portfolio of celebrated dining concepts includes the award-winning Sage in Las Vegas, Chicago’s Green Zebra and Spring, and Highlands Detroit. McClain and business partner Richard Camarota, an acclaimed chef and restaurant operations director with ties to Chicago, bring world-renowned experience and a commitment to hands-on execution to deliver high-quality guest experiences at each Boulevard location.

“We’re proud to feature local area chefs and restaurants at the new Hollywood Casino Joliet,” said Ruben Warren, Vice President and General Manager of Hollywood Casino Joliet. “Boulevard food hall will offer premium dining options, and we can’t wait to introduce our guests to this new social space later this year.” 

“Boulevard is designed to be a lively place for customers to gather and enjoy great food and drinks,” said Greg Moore, Vice President and General Manager of Hollywood Casino Aurora. “Bringing in local establishments that our customers know and love is an excellent addition to our new best-in-class property.” 

"It's an honor to partner with Hollywood Casino to usher in a bold new era while celebrating some of the greatest culinary talents in Chicago. It’s a dream come true to return to Chicago alongside chefs Stephanie Izard, Rick Ortiz of Antique Taco and Dana Cree of Pretty Cool Ice Cream. We are thrilled to showcase iconic dishes and introduce new items at Boulevard,” said McClain. 

“I’m so excited to be partnering with MCH to bring a new concept, Lucky Goat, to Hollywood Casinos in Aurora and Joliet. Chicago is home to my original Goat restaurants, which makes it such a great fit to launch a new, fast casual Goat in the region,” said Izard. “Boulevard Food Hall will house a handful of great restaurants in one beautifully designed space with a fun atmosphere. Burgers, chicken sammies, shakes and more were the way to go to create a fun, chill Goat spot." 

The Boulevard announcement comes on the heels of an announcement of a restaurant partnership with Giada De Laurentiis. De Laurentiis will bring world-class quality restaurants Sorella by Giada and Sorellina by Giada to the new Hollywood Casinos in Aurora and Joliet, respectively.    

Visit www.hollywoodcasinoaurora.com and www.hollywoodcasinojoliet.com for more information and to explore open job positions at the careers page on each website. 

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About Hollywood Casino Joliet 

The new Hollywood Casino Joliet, expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2025 (subject to regulatory approvals) is located within Rock Run Collection, a new super-regional commercial and residential development adjacent to the Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 interchange in Joliet. The best-in-class facility will feature approximately 1,000 slots and 43 live table games, including high limit slots and table games, a baccarat room, a retail sportsbook, high quality bars and restaurants including Sorellina by Giada and Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, an approximately 10,000 square foot event center with meeting areas, and approximately 1,330 parking spaces. Hollywood Casino estimates its construction of the Joliet facility will support 450 construction jobs and 615 permanent jobs at the new facility, growing the current team in Joliet by 200 team members. 

Hollywood Casino Joliet’s riverboat casino is currently located off Interstate 80 and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit www.hollywoodcasinojoliet.com

About Hollywood Casino Aurora 

The new Hollywood Casino Aurora, expected to open in the first half of 2026, is being developed adjacent to the Chicago Premium Outlets, located near Interstate 88 in Aurora. The best-in-class facility will feature roughly 1,200 gaming positions, approximately 220 guest rooms, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, high-quality bars and restaurants including Sorella by Giada and Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, an approximately 12,000 square foot event center with meeting areas and approximately 1,700 parking spaces. Hollywood Casino estimates its construction of the Aurora facility will support 700 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs at the new facility, nearly doubling the current team members in Aurora. 

Hollywood Casino Aurora is currently on the Fox River, located near Interstate 88, in Aurora, Illinois. For more information, visit: www.hollywoodcasinoaurora.com

 Contacts:

Jessica Gallen

Laughlin Constable Public Relations 

[email protected] 

312-995-8598