Construction permits are in hand for a Dutch Bros Coffee and Andy's Frozen Custard at the former TGI Fridays site in Darien, with both shops targeting an early 2027 opening.

Dan Gombac, Darien's municipal services director, confirmed the progress at the Tuesday, Oct. 6 City Council meeting, first reported by Darien Patch.

"Obviously, demolition just happened," Gombac told the council. "Construction permits have been released."

The two drive-through chains will share a single new building at 2201 75th St. in the Darien Towne Centre, the shopping center that includes Walmart. Chicago-based Core Acquisitions is the developer.

Alderman Eric Gustafson told the council he keeps receiving questions about the property. The site also gets frequent mentions on local Nextdoor pages.

The TGI Fridays at that address closed in December 2024, shortly after the national chain filed for bankruptcy protection. Illinois has three TGI Fridays locations remaining, in Chicago, Bedford Park and Effingham.

Darien's zoning commission reviewed Core Acquisitions' plan in April 2026. City documents at the time described the project as two quick-service, drive-through establishments sharing one building on the demolished restaurant's footprint.

By Sept. 8, a Dutch Bros representative told the Downers Grove Village Council that the Darien location would be open before a newly approved Dutch Bros at Saratoga and Ogden avenues in Downers Grove. The Downers Grove council voted unanimously that night to approve the Downers Grove location.

Arizona-based Dutch Bros operates about 1,300 locations across 27 states, with 16 in Illinois. Springfield, Missouri-based Andy's Frozen Custard has more than 170 locations in 15 states. Eighteen are in the Chicago area, including nearby La Grange Park, Naperville, Bolingbrook and Orland Park.

When Gombac discussed the TGI Fridays closure in December 2024, he told the council he hoped the city would get "something in there that is good and exciting." Construction on that replacement is now underway.