Introduction to Sugar Rae’s Ice Cream Shop
FOREST GLEN — Rae Thomas has had a sweet tooth since birth. The 6-year-old’s love of ice cream started with scoops of vanilla topped with sprinkles before evolving to dollops of Superman flavored-ice cream. Rae’s fondness for the sweet treat spurred her parents to open an ice cream shop called Sugar Rae’s in her honor earlier this month.
The Story Behind Sugar Rae’s
The Forest Glen shop carries 24 different flavors, but Rae pretty much just sticks to Superman, said her father, Will Thomas. “There was a point a few years ago where it felt like we were taking her for ice cream every single day,” said Rae’s mother, Danielle Thomas. “We were spending so much money on it that we were just like ‘we should open our own place.’”
Variety of Flavors and Treats
Sugar Rae’s Ice Cream, 5281 N. Elston Ave., carries a wide array of flavors, including Graham Central Station, which features graham crackers, strawberry cheesecake, peanut butter caramel and, of course, Superman. Sugar Rae’s also sells milkshakes and plans to add sundaes and banana splits.
Sugar Rae’s opened in Forest Glen last week. Credit: Molly DeVore/ Block Club Chicago
Overcoming Challenges to Open the Shop
The Thomas family initially wanted to open Sugar Rae’s last spring, but issues with city permits delayed their plans. The Sugar Rae’s storefront was previously a dog groomer. The Thomases, who live nearby in Jefferson Park, would pass the business on their way to Mr. V’s Pizza and when they saw the storefront was empty, they called its landlord. With so many families living in the area and the Forest Glen Playlot Park next door, Will Thomas said they thought it would be the perfect location for an ice cream shop. But getting the correct permits to transition the space from a dog grooming business to a dining establishment proved complicated and lengthy.
Grand Opening and Community Support
A “Coming Soon” sign was posted on the storefront last year, and neighbors have been waiting for the shop to open, Danielle Thomas said. She said there was a line out the front door all day during the grand opening. “I don’t think Rae will ever forget that day,” Danielle Thomas said. “She’s already telling people she’s famous.”
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