Irving Park is Now the Sweet Heart of Chicago: Pretty Cool Ice Cream Opens Major New Production Hub

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Irving Park · May 31, 2026

Irving Park neighbors, something delicious is happening on your block. Pretty Cool Ice Cream — the beloved Chicago frozen treats company that launched in Logan Square about eight years ago — has quietly set up its new production facility right here in the neighborhood at 3929 N. Central Park Ave. The move is a big deal: the Irving Park facility will allow the company to triple its output to keep up with surging demand that the original Logan Square shop simply couldn't handle alone.

Founters Dana Cree and Michael Ciapciak, who bring serious fine-dining and hospitality chops to the ice cream world, have big plans tied to the new space. This summer, Pretty Cool will begin shipping its signature ice cream bars nationwide through Lou Malnati's Tastes of Chicago platform — a long-awaited dream for fans who've moved away from the city and still crave a taste of home. The company has already sold 1.5 million pops in over 300 flavors, and exciting new collaborations are in the works, including partnerships with the Blackhawks and Dunning-based Eli's Cheesecake Company.

It's a sweet milestone for Irving Park — and proof that the neighborhood continues to attract the best of Chicago's homegrown food scene. Have you spotted the new facility on Central Park Ave., or are you already a Pretty Cool superfan? Tell your neighbors your favorite flavor in the comments below!

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/22/pretty-cool-ice-cream-to-triple-production-in-new-facility-as-popular-company-goes-national/