Portillo's laying off 18% of staff at Oak Brook headquarters

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Thursday, August 6, 2026 3:23AM
Portillo's laying off 18% of staff at Oak Brook headquarters
Portillo's is laying off 18% of employees at its corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, the Chicago-area restaurant company said.

OAK BROOK, Ill. (WLS) -- Portillo's is laying off a large portion of employees at its corporate headquarters in the west suburbs.

The restaurant chain said 18% of the staff at the Oak Brook offices are now gone.

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The company also cut some field management roles, but the layoffs do not impact restaurant workers.

Portillo's CEO Brett Patterson says the cuts will help the business operate more efficiently as they continue to open more locations nationwide.

"While never an easy decision, it is imperative that we examine areas of the business where we can operate more efficiently and ensure our resources and future investments are directed at the right priorities," Patterson said in a statement. "These actions, along with other efficiencies, will support our long-term growth strategy."

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