JOLIET, IL — A year ago, Wyler BBQ was not on the Joliet area’s food map. Nowadays, Tom Wyler and his Wyler BBQ concession stand has turned into one of the most popular venues at Joliet Slammers baseball games played at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet’s downtown.
During the Joliet Slammers last home game, Sunday, June 5, the Wyler BBQ food lineup was solid against the Evansville Otters. As for the regular staples, the pulled pork sandwich is $10. For $14, the Porknado comes served in a conewich, featuring smoked mac and cheese, pulled pork, jalapenos and BBQ sauce.
There’s the mac and cheese conewich for $8; and during Sunday home games you can order family slider packs of pulled pork, five for $15, 10 for $25 or 15 for $35. The Wyler BBQ concession stand is along the first base stadium concourse.
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“I decided to start Wyler BBQ in January,” Tom Wyler told Joliet Patch during the recent game.
The Joliet Slammers return to Duly Health stadium this Tuesday evening for a 6:30 p.m. game against the Quebec Capitales. The Slammers now have home games through Sunday, June 18, an off day on Monday, June 19, followed by three more games June 20-22.
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For Wyler, that means a chance to dish up hundreds of delicious BBQ pork sandwiches.
Before landing his concession vendor contract with Joliet Slammers, Wyler said he had a ghost kitchen at Tortilla Flatz Mexican Grill on Route 30 in Plainfield. After joining a business networking group, he met Rick Wolf, the Joliet Slammers corporate sales account executive, and in March, Wyler BBQ became one of the new food vendors for the Slammers.
There are 51 home games this season.
“This opportunity came up, so I couldn’t pass it up,” Wyler explained.
Wyler BBQ has been a winning recipe for the Joliet Slammers through its first 15 home games.
“I’ve been selling out every game by the third or fourth inning,” Wyler said. “Princess Night, we soldout 90 pounds of pork and 10 pounds of mac and cheese, 60 pounds of brisket and cheddar-smoked sausage. I sold it in 60 minutes. I was sold out by the second inning.”
On Princess Night, the Joliet Slammers drew a packed crowd of 5,500, Wyler said.
“I had a line going all the way over to the elevator,” he said.
Wyler has cooked an average of 40 to 50 pounds of pulled pork for home games. He uses Joliet’s iconic bakery, Milano’s, for his sandwich buns.
“Milano’s, they are my official bread supplier,” Wyler said.
In Facebook’s Joliet Area Bar & Restaurant Guide of Brian Bessler, food enthusiasts continue to share photos of Wyler BBQ’s Porknado, which Wyler says is served in a cone-wich.
“It is taking off like wildfire,” he remarked. “It’s become one of my bestsellers in the last week and a half.”
As for his pulled pork sandwich, “it is by far the one that sells automatically,” Wyler said. “On a slow night, I sell probably 50. On a busy night, over 100.”
For virtually all home games, Wyler arrives at the downtown Joliet ballpark around 2 a.m.
“I have a little lawn chair,” Wyler said. “Everything is made fresh every game, and that’s the difference. The barbecue is not coming in from another restaurant. It’s being cooked here, which is a unique feature.”
What does Wyler have to say about joining the Joliet Slammers as one of their key food vendors?
“It’s just been an incredible opportunity,” he said.
Wyler wanted to thank Joel Sigel, director of food and beverage for the Slammers.
“He’s been absolutely instrumental in the success of this,” Wyler added.
At Sigel’s suggestion, Wyler BBQ introduced the Loaded Pretzel Nacho, which consists of several Bavarian soft pretzel bites.
“And it’s covered in a beer cheese, topped with pulled pork and topped with my original barbecue sauce and on top of that, jalapeño peppers,” Wyler explained. “It’s been a good seller for us.”
Other members of the team who deserve recognition for Wyler BBQ’s success, he said, include Lauren Baca, director of marketing and corporate services, and Heather Mills, chief financial officer.
Wyler BBQ also does catering in the area. People can call 630-216-9179 or visit the Wyler BBQ website.
In closing, Wyler wanted to thank his wife, Laura, and his mother, Diana, for their support. “Because I obviously can’t do it without my wife’s support, and my mom’s been very supportive. Basically, the person I’ve turned out to be is because of my mom.”
To look at the home games and promotion schedule for the Joliet Slammers, visit the club’s website.
One more thing: starting this Wednesday, June 14, the Joliet Slammers are introducing $1 ticket Wednesdays for fans of all ages who attend the games.
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
Joliet Slammers Unveil New Food And Beverage Program
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