Press Release
Bobtail Soda Fountain to Open in Lakeview: A Scoop of Modern Flair and Homemade Tradition Makes for a Winning Combination Chicago, IL (March 26, 2004)
I scream, you scream, we'll all be screaming for fresh ice cream, this April when Bobtail Soda Fountain opens its doors to those looking for more than just the average ice cream shop Located on the border of trendy Lincoln Park and eclectic Lakeview (2951 N. Broadway at the corner of Broadway and Wellington), co-founders Jeff Wilcoxon and Christopher Hill know that you can't go wrong with tradition, style and great homemade taste.
Promising to provide the premier soda fountain experience, Bobtail will combine the charm, nostalgia, and warmth of a classic hometown ice cream parlor with the sophistication, energy and quality of a contemporary urban cafe.
"Jeff and I are strong believers in local tradition, homemade quality, and fair value. The inspiration for this store is that small town parlor with a friendly face that so many of us knew as kids. Our ice cream is the best I've ever tasted, our coffee and tea are of the highest quality, and our trademark Belgian waffles are unlike anything available." says co-founder Christopher Hill.
A grand opening weekend complete with tastings, free cones, giveaways and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in early June.
Derived from the nickname of the handle on an old-fashioned soda fountain, Bobtail will produce each homemade batch in the on-site, glass-enclosed ice cream "factory". Customers will be able to watch as more than 20 classic, seasonal and locally inspired ice cream flavors, such as Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Signature Sunset (merlot ice cream with pieces of dark chocolate), are created right before their eyes. The menu also features a low-carb vanilla, fat-free sorbets, and low-fat frozen yogurt for those seeking a healthier indulgence.
Beyond the factory, the action continues as soda jerks prepare fresh sundaes, classic sodas, floats, and innovative creations like the Cream Espress (a thick vanilla milkshake topped off with a double shot of espresso). Customers can experience the action from the counter seats at the end of the production line and a marble-top bar overlooking the factory.
Unlike most ice cream shops, when the inevitable Chicago winter rolls around, Bobtail doesn't miss a step, since each day begins at 6:00am with a freshly baked batch of sweet Belgian waffles and muffins, Lavazza coffees and espressos, organic teas by Numi, and fruit juices. Other year-round warm specialties include homemade hot chocolates and hot-fudge fondue.
Bobtail's super-premium ice cream is made from the best ingredients available and served in the classic hard-pack style. The recipes were carefully crafted, through research and taste tests, to match the creaminess of other high-end ice creams but offer reduced butterfat content and calories so the subtleties of each flavor shine through.
The shop's interior and exterior design was provided by The Gettys Group, a premier Chicago-based interior design and architecture company that has won national recognition for many of its hospitality and restaurant design projects. Utilizing a mix of both traditional and contemporary design elements, they developed a distinctive interior design that attempts to reflect the diverse Lakeview marketplace.
Contemporary accents include a flat-screen television and mosaic tile doorstep, while a classic stainless steel fountain, white marble countertops and a collection of photographs and collectibles give an authentic feel of days gone by. An outdoor patio with lantern lighting and music provides a perfect setting to enjoy the entire experience on a warm summer evening.
The premier soda fountain will offer corporate and private catering services starting this summer. For special occasions, made-to-order cakes are available or you can create a completely personalized, 20-quart batch of ice cream combining any of the ingredients on the core menu.
The Bobtail Soda Fountain concept was initially developed by Jeff Wilcoxon and Christopher Hill through the Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge, an annual business plan competition at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business (GSB). Inspiration came from the Wilcoxon's family-owned Johnson's Real Ice Cream in Bexley, Ohio and 50-years of small town ice cream tradition. John Rutledge, a fellow GSB alumnus, successful Chicago-based hospitality/real estate entrepreneur and private equity investor, and co-founder and president of The Oxford Capital Group began collaborating with Jeff and Chris in the spring of 2003. He signed on as lead investor, strategic advisor, and CEO of the new company.
"Chris and I thought it would be great if we could take this plan and continue the tradition of my family's ice cream shop," says co-founder Jeff Wilcoxon. "I grew up watching my father and grandfather serve the best ice cream in town. We've taken their proven formulas and refined them into our own recipes. We are ready to deliver a unique soda fountain experience to Chicago. It's been fun to watch people rate our ice cream ahead of all the prominent brands during taste tests. You really have to taste it to believe it."
Mr. Rutledge is a member of the advisory board of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship at the Chicago GSB. Building on this connection to the University of Chicago, and its founders' commitment to providing educational opportunities universally, Bobtail will donate a percentage of its annual revenue to both local and national educational initiatives. Among the first beneficiaries will be Chicago's Inner City Teaching Corps, whose honorary chair is Mayor Richard M. Daley.
For more information call (773) 880-7372.
