WICKER PARK — Just in time for spring, a much-anticipated artisanal ice cream shop from Jeni Britton Bauer — an Ohio-based chef known mostly by her first name — will debut with free scoops.
To celebrate its new Wicker Park outpost at 1505 N. Milwaukee Ave., Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream will host an opening night party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. next Tuesday, March 17.
Free scoops will be served, and the first 50 guests in line will receive a ceramic "Flavor Mug" featuring the colors of the shop's ice cream flavors, according to a news release.
New flavor mugs:
One block south of the Milwaukee, Damem and North avenues intersection, the new shop is part of a real estate development that includes a neighboring 1880s-era rehabbed building, soon to be home to Bom Bolla, a Spanish cava-focused restaurant.
Jeni's opened its first shop in Columbus, Ohio in 2002 and has 21 locations in six states, according to its website.
Britton Bauer debuted her first Chicago outpost at 3404 N. Southport Ave. in Lakeview in 2013 (though local residents had been getting pints of Jeni's at Goddess and Grocer, 1615 N. Damen Ave., and Olivia's Market, 2014 W. Wabansia Ave.)
"Chicago is such a beautiful, world-class city," Britton Bauer, who grew up in Downstate Peoria and studied art at Ohio State University, said.
She added, "The shop itself is gorgeous and, like all of our shops, one-of-a-kind. It’s a perfect setting for our customers to have a date, share ice cream with the family, enjoy some Intelligentsia coffee, or to grab a cone and have a stroll through the neighborhood."
The Jeni's Wicker Park menu includes 15 signature flavors, including Brambleberry Crisp and Pistachio and Honey. Also offered are five limited-edition flavors (lemon buttermilk tart frozen yogurt; Bangkok Peanut, etc.) and four ice sandwiches such as oatmeal cream and salty caramel with smoked almonds.
Along with ice cream, expect frozen yogurts and sorbets. French Press Intelligentsia Coffee and to-go pints will also be available for sale.
A company spokeswoman said the new store will bring 20 new jobs to the neighborhood.
View the Jeni's Wicker Park menu here.
Jeni's Wicker Park, 1505 N. Milwaukee Ave., Ph: 872-802-4668. Hours are to be determined. For updates, follow the shop on Twitter at @jenisicecreams or via the shop's localized Chicago feed, @jenisCHI.
Intelligenstia Black Cat Espresso:
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