Nearly a century after first serving cones on Chicago’s South Side, The Original Rainbow Cone is officially bringing its signature five-flavor ice cream experience to the California coast. Opening May 11 across from Main Beach in Laguna Beach, the new shop marks the brand’s 30th location and its latest expansion outside the Midwest.
Positioned along South Coast Highway with views of the Pacific Ocean, the Laguna Beach storefront introduces one of Chicago’s most recognizable dessert institutions to one of Southern California’s busiest beach communities.
The Five-Flavor Cone That Built the Brand
Founded in 1926 by Joe “Grandpa Joe” Sapp and his wife Kathleen, Rainbow Cone became known for doing something different from the standard ice cream counter: slicing and stacking five flavors into one cone rather than scooping them separately.
The signature Rainbow Cone layers chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House, pistachio, and orange sherbet together into a single slice-built stack that delivers all five flavors in every bite.
To celebrate the grand opening and the company’s centennial year, the first 100 guests in line on May 11 will receive a free Rainbow Cone. While the original cone remains the centerpiece, the Laguna Beach menu expands into traditional scoops, hand-spun milkshakes, sundaes, ice cream cakes, and made-to-order mini donuts. Guests can also order “Sliced Creations,” chef-curated two- and three-flavor combinations using the same slicing technique that made the brand famous in Chicago.
Bringing a South Side Tradition to Southern California
The Laguna Beach location is owned and operated by Anne Hsiung, a Chicago South Side native who grew up visiting Rainbow Cone before introducing the concept to California earlier this year through the brand’s Cypress location. “Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Rainbow Cone was a summer tradition, something we always looked forward to,” said Hsiung. “Being able to bring that to Laguna Beach feels like a natural fit.”
The location also reflects Laguna Beach’s arts culture through a custom mural created by local artist Beau Stanton inside the shop.
With summer approaching and beach traffic returning to the coastline, Rainbow Cone arrives in Laguna Beach with a concept that combines Chicago nostalgia, family tradition, and a dessert style that has remained largely unchanged for nearly 100 years.
For more information, visit The Original Rainbow Cone
Location: 244 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach
Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Photo credits: Photo courtesy of The Original Cone
