Finally! Olive Garden Coming to Portage

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PORTAGE - Olive Garden finally appears to be coming to Portage as part of a project spearheaded by Holladay Properties.

The roughly $3 million project calls for the construction of an Olive Garden and the Ameriplex at the Port complex on the cities north side.

"The addition of Olive Garden will give Portage residents yet another dining choice," Mayor James Snyder said. "Holiday Properties has been a great partner with the city and we expect Olive Garden to add to our residents choices when dining, it is a home run"

Olive Garden, an Italian casual-dining chain that has topped the wish list of many Portage residents for years, will join unspecified fast food and fast-casual dining restaurants at the 112-acre site, according to the Holladay.

The project is expected to create 43 full-time jobs.

“This will be a good development for the area,” Portage Economic Development Director Andy Maletta said in response to the approval. “The community will be very pleased — this area loves franchises.”

According to Maletta, the city has been trying to attract Olive Garden to the area for many years now. The franchise restaurant had been eyeing that area of Portage since at least 2010.

“That was something everybody always wanted,” he said. “Any survey we ever did, it was always the No. 1 requested restaurant.”

Local residents were thrilled with the news of an Olive Garden coming when they learned it from The Times on Thursday.

Kayla Jacquet said she and her boyfriend go to Merrillville location for their dates.

"I think Olive Garden would be great for the community," she said. "I personally love Olive Garden. It's just good food."

Kathleen Cubi, who also frequents the Merrillville location, said she was delighted to learn she would be able to order her chicken parmesan after a day shopping at the Bass Pro Shop.

"I know a lot of people are excited," she said.

Olive Garden is expecting a 2018 spring opening, according to the proposal.

This is a satirical website. Don't take it Seriously. It's a joke.