OMG! It’s finally happening! Portillo’s is coming to Lady Lake! Villages residents have been asking for this for years and now we know exactly where the new restaurant is going! Just south of Tire Kingdom in Lady Lake is a large parcel of land off Hwy 27-441 where the new restaurant will be built. The new location will be highly popular and a big parking lot is planned.

(Note the massive parking lot planned for this location. There will also be an extensive drive-thru for the volume of cars expected at Portillo’s.)

The renderings look terrific. We have been told that the site will be created on at least 7,800-square feet and will seat up to 226 guests. There also appears to be some outdoor patio seating that will be provided. Chick-Fil-A in The Villages recently renovated its building but some people were disappointed at the lack of outdoor seating and a focus more on the drive-thru. This location will certainly offer outdoor seating that rivals Culvers outdoor seating.

The restaurant will have a massive drive-thru. Ever since the days of Covid, fast food establishments have focused more of an effort on drive-thru rather than in store service. This will be highly evident as you pull up to Portillo’s. The drive-thru will be the biggest one offered in Lady Lake.

(A closer image of what a proposed drive thru location would look like. Unless this is early in the day, we fully expect the location to be filled with cars. This will likely become on of the most popular establishments in Lady Lake.)

Residents will need to get used to the cashless operations in the drive-thru. Much like Chipotle locations, everything is done with credit, debit, or gift cards. Online options should be available as well. Cash is still accepted in all Portillo’s locations inside the establishment.

As far as construction is concerned, a timetable has not been announced yet. However this is a huge project which will bring a ton of business to the Lady Lake Community. Residents are very excited about this new edition to Lady Lake and it should be an instant success when it opens.

(The entry way to Portillo’s will be modern and also allow for some nice outdoor seating.) There will be plenty of handicap parking close to the entry way. This will please many customers especially Villages residents. This location however will not be golf car accessible.)

The location is along a stretch of road which used to house a bypass bridge. That bridge has been demolished in favor of an at-grade intersection. The Portillo’s should be easily accessible when it opens up and will be highly visible from the passing Hwy 27-441. The property is large and we are not aware of any other businesses that will populate this property.

We look forward to continuing to follow the progress of this very popular establishment as they get closer to a construction date.