Chicago style hot dogs and Italian Beef sandwiches on north Prospect? Looks like the years of calls for a Portillo’s in Champaign have finally been answered.

Per a report in the News-Gazette, Portillo’s has filed a construction permit for the old Home Town Buffet location at 2306 N. Prospect Ave.

City planning and development director Bruce Knight told Marcus Jackson:

“My department, which reviews it for zoning compliance, has completed its review and sent it on to our building safety,” Knight said Wednesday. “Building safety will complete its review and a building permit is issued. At that point in time, they can start construction whenever they want.”

Portillo’s submission, Knight said, included a three-bay drive-thru and approximately 70 stacking spaces for cars.

“It’s the largest stacking for a drive-thru I’ve ever seen,” Knight said.

Craigslist posts that surfaced last month suggested that the company was seeking managers in Champaign for a future restaurant.

So now that we have Portillo’s, what restaurant will people pine for?