Rick and Julie Trafton can't wait to unveil what's been in the works at 11116 S. Front St. It opened Monday, Aug. 4.
MOKENA, IL — The last finishing touches on, menu fine-tuned and margaritas fresh, the newest addition to downtown Mokena has made its debut.
The Dock On Front Street opened its doors Monday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m.
The labor of love for owner and Mokena native Rick Trafton has been more than a year in the making, and he's ecstatic to finally unveil it to supporters.
"We are excited to be back home in Mokena, where we belong!" Trafton told Patch.
When Joliet's Dock at Inwood shut the lights off in late-2023, Trafton quickly scooped up a piece of Mokena history, a spot where even he has memories from decades earlier. The building at 11116 S. Front St. has had many iterations: saloon, grocery store, family restaurant. Trafton knows the pressure has been on to deliver a unique addition to Mokena's downtown—something that will inspire other entrepreneurs to try, too. Trafton.
He thinks he's done it.
"We feel like there's no place like this in the area," Trafton told Patch previously.
"We're like the Mayflower on Front Street," he said. "Hopefully this is going to spur a lot more growth."
The space has been brightened and modernized. From the start, Trafton's wife Julie envisioned barn wood and plenty of white to brighten it—and that vision came to fruition.
Garage doors facing Front Street flood the bar with natural light. The bar is custom-crafted, and its top holds its own history, built of wood from the structure's rafters. The wood dates back to the 1850s, Trafton said.
Through a hallway, a private event space is designed with a greenery backdrop against one wall, available for rental. It's private enough, but could also accommodate overflow from the dining room, if needed. A garage door lets in natural light—and a permanent screen behind it keeps bugs out.
They've kept much of the proven favorites from their previous menu—ranging from salads to barbecue, chicken to steak, tacos, burgers, wings—with some new touches and features and classics like sausage and peppers and nachos.
A smashburger that's actually smashed, Julie said, and "cooked at high temps to create a caramelized edge while keeping the center juicy." Salads that are micro-chopped to get every last green.
"We're going to bring back some of the great stuff we had in Joliet that we're known for," he said. "Like, we smoked the corned beef, and we made it into pastrami."
Weekend menus will see some tweaks and specials, he said. Chef Guillermo Garcia is already eager to try.
"That's where he's going to have fun," Trafton said. "We're going to have our core menu, which is going to be really solid. It won't be crazy, but it's going to be solid choices."
Their perfectly-tweaked margarita mix will stay the same, and they'll offer 25 flavors. He also plans to introduce muddled margaritas. Classic cocktails like martinis, an old-fashioned, a Manhatan and others are also featured. Tiered wines will be available—starting with house wines and offering other options priced up from there.
Julie Trafton said they're also eager to bring back their St. Patrick's Day celebration—a festival that features an Irish soda bread competition and that raises funds for a handpicked local charity.
Mokena Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melissa Fedora said that they're eager for the ways the restaurant will enhance the downtown.
"The Mokena Chamber of Commerce is absolutely thrilled to see the long-anticipated The Dock on Front Street now opening its doors!" Fedora said. "Rick and Julie’s dedication and vision have been nothing short of inspiring. We’re confident their restaurant is going to be a wonderful addition to our business community. We’re proud to welcome them and look forward to the energy and connection they’ll bring to our downtown."
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