ROGERS PARK — XO Marshmallow has surpassed its initial Kickstarter campaign goal of $6,500 and will open as a cafe at 6977 N. Sheridan Road by early June, co-owner Lindzi Shanks said.
Shanks said the cafe will be the "first ever true cafe surrounded 100 percent around the idea of marshmallows."
The cafe will offer marshmallows and marshmallow-based treats, including whoopie pies, Rice Krispie treats and s'mores tacos in addition to a full-service espresso bar.
"Basically anything marshmallow, we're going to try it out," said Shanks, who handles marketing and branding for XO Marshmallow.
The 700-square-foot cafe will be able to seat 16 people when it opens. It will share a kitchen with Midnight Mac and Cheesery and Nibbles and Nosh.
Shanks and Kat Connor have been running XO Marshmallow out of a commercial kitchen since March 2016. The two met when Connor began working at Shanks' pop-up store The Trendy Sparrow and started selling her marshmallow treats there.
With three days left in the Kickstarter campaign, XO Marshmallow pledges to release a new passion fruit flavor if it meets the stretch goal of $10,000 before Monday.
