WICKER PARK — Iconic Chicago ice cream company Rainbow Cone is opening a location in Wicker Park next month.
The beloved Beverly-based franchise known for its five-layer cones is taking over the former Caffe Streets, 1750 W. Division St.
The company has pulled a building permit and is completing renovations, which includes adding hot-pink patio seating along Division. A rep confirmed the ice cream shop will hold a grand opening May 28.
Rainbow Cone has been a South Side classic for almost a century. Its trademark ice cream treat includes five signature flavors: orange sherbet, pistachio, Palmer House, strawberry and chocolate, with the ice cream famously sliced, not scooped.
Since a 2019 merger with Buona Beef, the company has been franchising and expanding across the Chicago region and beyond.
Rainbow Cone currently has almost 20 standalone stores, kiosks and ice cream trucks in the city and the suburbs. The company is adding locations in Lake Geneva and Southwest Michigan, as well as offering franchise opportunities in other states, according to its website.
“We hope that in the next 10 years, we can have a hundred Rainbow Cone locations. The goal is to bring Rainbow Cone to as many communities as we can,” Johnny Buonavolanto, a member of the family which owns Buona Beef, told Block Club last year.
The Caffe Streets space has been empty since the cafe closed in early March after more than a decade in business. Caffe Streets predated the arrival of several chains in Wicker Park, including Philz Coffee and Colectivo, both just a few blocks away.
A manager told Block Club at the time the cafe could reopen elsewhere, but nothing had been confirmed.
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