Celebrating A Century Of Rainbow Cone
A line stretched around the Original Rainbow Cone’s pink-painted storefront in Beverly on Sunday afternoon, as patrons celebrated 100 years of the cherished treat. For many, like Beth Roland, the occasion carried personal significance. Six of her children had worked at the shop during their teenage years. When two of her sons got married, owners Joe and Katherine Sapp even gifted them rainbow cakes. ‘They packed many a cone,’ Roland recalled fondly.
Meanwhile, Rosemary Smith reminisced about childhood trips to the spot. ‘Grandpa took us all the time,’ said Smith, who is now 80. Her family would travel from Bridgeport to Beverly for the experience. The celebration included balloons, temporary tattoos, and a giant cake shaped like an ice cream cone, adorned with Rainbow Cone’s distinctive layered flavors of chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House, pistachio almond, and topped with orange sherbet. Last month, the shop collaborated with the Museum of Ice Cream on an exhibit honoring the milestone.
Rainbow Cone, a regional staple since 1926, heralds summer for countless Chicagoans with its unique stack of flavors. A special slicing scoop crafts the cone’s broad, flat layers, ensuring a stable tower of ice cream. Over the decades, the shop has amassed a devoted fan base. Lynn Sapp, the granddaughter of Joe and Katherine, noted that some fans have even immortalized their love with tattoos. ‘That’s the loyalty this product invokes,’ she remarked, observing the bustling shop filled with customers.
Among those gathered was Alderman Matt O’Shea of the 19th Ward, who grew up close by. ‘On summer nights, my father would say to us, ‘If everyone finishes their dinner, we can walk to Rainbow Cone,’ he shared. Rainbow Cone has made a significant impact on Beverly, O’Shea expressed, drawing visitors from all over the city and providing many teenagers with their first employment opportunities. ‘They are not just a small business, they’re an institution,’ he added.
Despite the passage of time, Sapp stated, ‘The cone’s never wavered.’ Amid numerous trends and gimmicks, the century-old cone remains a successful draw, capturing enduring affection and loyalty.