Chicago-based Portillo's Hot Dogs is the latest chain to skip over the St. Louis region in favor of expansion elsewhere. Portillo's is developing a new location near Denver International Airport. That would have the Illinois-anchored chain jumping over the states of Missouri and Kansas to get to Colorado.
Whataburger has reached up from Texas to open in Kansas City.
In-N-Out Burger, with California roots, expanded out to Colorado and Texas, but is skipping St. Louis on its way to Tennessee.
But, hey, none of those places have St. Louis' own Lion's Choice.
