Vaca’s Creamery, Chicago’s first vegan ice cream shop, is opening a new location in Lincoln Park at 2324 W. Giddings St.
The company’s second location will move into the former home of Paciugo Gelato, which closed all Chicago shops in 2018. The expansion comes less than two years after the company made its Pulaski Park debut in May 2021, according to Eater Chicago. Co-owner Dylan Sutcliff confirms with What Now Chicago that he and his business partner Mariana Marinho hopes to open this new parlor in February 2023. The duo launched Vaca, which means cow in Portuguese, hoping to create an ice cream shop where cows are not harmed or exploited.
“It seems like vegans and people with allergies quickly spread the word to their Omni friends because more and more, we hear people saying that they aren’t vegan or anything, they just love our ice cream,” Sutcliff tells Eater Chicago.
Unlike the original 400-square-foot walk-up window location, the Lincoln Park site will be 1,000 square feet with indoor seating for 12 to 16 people. The new location will continue to serve soft-serve vanilla, chocolate, swirl, seasonal varieties, and unique flavors not seen at the original site. Vaca also plans to introduce a new machine allowing customers to take home pints of any flavor choice. Customers can also expect to find cups, cones, sundaes, and new drink options. Most items on the menu will be gluten-free as well.
“We are hoping to create a cozy environment that feels like a nice destination for dessert or a coffee date on a cold day,” Marinho tells the publication. “Honestly, we are still figuring that out. It seems like it’s important to keep customers interested with new products, flavors, and warm things.”
