CHICAGO — In a city known for culinary creativity, a peculiar soft serve stand is drawing crowds not just for its creamy offerings, but for its hilariously unconventional staff — puppets.
Located at 4146 N. Elston Ave., The Sugar Hole at Color Club is serving up more than just dessert. Operated entirely through a porthole window by puppet characters, the shop opens its doors every weekend from 3 to 8 p.m. until fall — and the lines have yet to die down.
“There’s kind of an infectious joy to it,” said co-owner Josh Dihle. “Even the sheer weirdness of it is surprising in a pleasurable way.”
Dihle and his wife, Aby Monroe, launched the shop with no expectations beyond sharing a quirky idea. What started as a novelty quickly gained momentum, with demand for their vanilla soft serve — often topped with sprinkles — growing beyond their wildest forecasts.
“Surprised and a little scared,” Dihle admitted. “It sounds fun but then it’s like, OK, where do I get enough vanilla ice cream to make this happen?”
Behind the scenes — or rather, the wall — is a rotating cast of puppets voiced and controlled by a team of six puppeteers, including Lucy Wirtz. Depending on the day, customers may be served by Steve, Puddles, Moolisa, Jeremiah Carvuretor, or Dansby.
“It’s really exciting that they can’t see us, but we can see them… to see all the joy and surprise of seeing a puppet on a random street corner,” said Wirtz.
Part of the charm is in the chaos. Puppets clumsily handle cash and credit cards, sometimes disappearing with them into their foam mouths. The resulting laughter — and occasional scream of disbelief — is all part of the experience.
“You can always blame the puppets. Nobody minds,” Dihle joked.
Both children and adults are captivated by the absurdity. For many, it’s not just about the ice cream — it’s about the shared moment of bizarre delight.
The Sugar Hole may not follow a conventional business model, but it taps into the unexpected joy that defines some of the most memorable dining experiences. For those looking for a unique treat and maybe even scouting ice cream franchise opportunities with a twist, this Chicago porthole proves that there’s still room for innovation — and imagination — in the latest ice cream franchise scene.
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