By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — The next development happening in the East Riverside Boulevard corridor will deliver a new option for both dining and dessert.
Buona Beef and The Original Rainbow Cone, two family-owned chains that are staples in Chicagoland, will be built at the corner of East Riverside Boulevard and Galleria Drive, which is just west of the Interstate 90 interchange in front of Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
City officials expect construction of the dual-brand restaurant at 7310 Riverside Blvd. to break ground next month with a goal of opening later this year. City Council members approved the special-use permit needed for the drive-thru establishment in April.
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Representatives of the companies were unable to be reached last week.
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Buona Beef was started in 1981 in Berwyn by Joe and Peggy Buonavolanto, and today it’s the largest family-owned Italian beef restaurant group in the country, according to its website.
Rainbow Cone is also rooted in family tradition. Joseph and Katherine Sapp opened the first Rainbow Cone stand in 1926 in Chicago, and the business was passed down to their son and then granddaughter.
The dual-brand concept started expanding outside of Chicagoland last year, and this is its first in the Rockford region.
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The fast-casual restaurant is anchored by Buona’s Italian beef, Chicago-style hotdogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches and chopped salads. The sweeter side of the business is Rainbow Cone’s trademark five-flavor Rainbow Cone. The shop’s original creation, which was made by Sapp because he never wanted just one flavor, consists of chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (New York vanilla with cherries and walnuts), pistachio and orange sherbet.
The Riverside Boulevard corridor has been filling with more restaurant options over the past year. Tom & Jerry’s opened its fourth area restaurant at 7170 E. Riverside Blvd. in March, Lino’s opened its carryout only business at 8410 E. Riverside Blvd. in November and added its “summer shack” earlier this month, and locally owned Baked Wings opened in August. In addition to that, Starbucks and Chiptole were added in 2021 and an Arby’s is also planned for that stretch.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.