Protesters turn out for Deerfield Portillo's opening

Demonstrators from both sides of the gun control debate turned out for the opening of the Deerfield Portillo's.

The new building constructed at 700 Lake Cook Road opened Tuesday morning to more than 70 diners lined up outside and a couple dozen demonstrators near the parking lot.

Peaceful Communities, a Northbrook-based group dedicated to reducing gun violence, organized a demonstration because members said they got no response when they contacted Portillo's to talk to the company about banning guns from the restaurant, according to Lee Goodman, an organizer for the group.

"They invited the community to come to the grand opening so we came," he said.

Goodman said under Illinois' conceal carry law, if a business places a sign on its door or window indicating a person with a permit cannot bring a gun inside, it is a violation of the statute to do so. He said Peaceful Communities has been asking area businesses to place the sign at their entrances.

Mike H. Weisman who sad he is a member of the board of directors of the Illinois State Rifle Association also attended the event.

"We support their right to speak their message but we think they are sending the wrong message," Weisman said.

Keith Kinsey, Portillo's CEO, said the company welcomes everyone who wants to come to the restaurant to enjoy the food. He said he treated Peaceful Communities no different than any other group and said the company follows all local laws.

"That's the American way," Kinsey said of both groups. "People get to have their say. We want them to do that in a safe and secure environment. We follow the laws of each community. In the city of Chicago it's a little different than here."