Jeni’s Ice Cream Opening First Chicago Location in Lake View

The rumor mill can finally come to a halt, because Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream confirms they’ll open their first location in Illinois in Lake View.

Formerly home to Safari Cup, the high-end ice cream store will open at 3404 N. Southport Ave., next door to the upcoming Starbucks location. A representative with the company says Jeni’s will complete construction and open in August.

“We are beyond excited to be opening in Chicago,” said Jeni Britton Bauer, who founded Jeni’s in 2002. “I grew up in Illinois and have always dreamed of having a shop there. We are thrilled to be joining the amazing Chicago food scene, which simply can’t be topped.”

Thus far, the popular ice cream company only has 12 storefronts in Ohio and Tennessee, but sells pints everywhere from Whole Foods to Southport Grocery & Café.

Rumors that Jeni’s was planning a new store in Lake View broke in early April when the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce heard word of the shakeup on Southport.

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“I have it on pretty good authority that they signed a lease but not confirmed by them or the broker,” Lakeview Chamber Director Heather Way told Patch in April. “If what I heard is true, they are paying the highest rent on the street.  Read: they are going to have to sell a lot of ice cream, but at $12 a pint, they should be ok.”

And based on their website, the $12 price tag is true. Jeni’s sells exotic flavors like Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet and Brown Butter Almond Brittle starting at $12, with its Askinosie Dark Milk Chocolate going for $14 a pint.

That’s compared to the average $4 price tag ice cream lovers would pay for a pint of Ben & Jerry’s at stores like Target.

The Columbus, Ohio-based ice cream company scooped up $9 million in revenue in 2011, reports SmartMoney.

"If we bought some cheap ice cream, we wouldn't have lines out the door," founder Jeni Britton Bauer told SmartMoney.

Jeni’s will join Anthony’s Homemade Italian Ice on Southport. Anthony’s also serves East Lake View staple Bobtail Ice Cream.