Jack in the Box Plots Re-Entry in Major Metropolis

Just over a year after returning to the Sunshine State, the brand is planning growth in another market it parted with decades ago.

July 2, 2024

Courtesy of Jack in the Box.

“Is Jack in the Box going to open locations in the city of Chicago?” reportedly marks one of the most popular questions the chain receives, says its website. While the brand formerly operated in the Windy City, it has not for four decades—until now.

On July 2, Jack in the Box announced that, yes, it will return to Chicago.

It will start with eight company-operated units, set to open in 2025, followed by “aggressive expansion plans” for over 125 corporate and franchise locations in the area. Jack in the Box says formats may include traditional, freestanding restaurants, end-caps with a drive-thru, conversions of existing buildings and dark kitchens.

The new locations will offer dine-in, drive-thru and mobile ordering options, and will be open 24 hours per day.

While Chicago will be a new addition to the portfolio, Jack in the Box does have locations in the Illinois cities of Alton, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, Granite City, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Swansea, Troy and Wood River.

Beyond Chicago, the San Diego-based brand also is targeting multiunit growth in new U.S. markets across Utah, Kentucky, Arkansas, Montana, Wyoming, Michigan, Florida and Georgia. Internationally, it is set to grow in Mexico.

Today, Jack in the Box comprises approximately 2,200 restaurants across 22 states.