Rainbow Cone Goes National with Buona Beef

Origin Story

Rainbow Cone isn’t just a dessert. It’s a memory carried by a city. Born in 1926 in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, the Original Rainbow Cone stacked five flavors, chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (a vanilla-based blend with candied fruits, nuts, and cherries), pistachio, and orange sherbet, into a single, eye-catching tower. The idea came from Joseph Sapp, known as 'Grandpa Joe,' who turned a summer craving into a city ritual. Families lined up for the multi-slice crown, a bold move when tastes were widening. The cone wasn’t flashy; it was flavorful and approachable, a big win for a neighborhood shop. How did that local spark become a national idea?

That tower of flavor helped Rainbow Cone carve a space in Chicago’s cultural fabric. The five flavors, Chocolate, Strawberry, Palmer House, Pistachio, and Orange Sherbet, weren’t random. They were distinct, approachable, and perfectly summery. Chicago Magazine notes the construction emerged as a bold response to evolving tastes, one that kept Rainbow Cone tethered to its city while inviting new fans to sample something playful and shareable. The brand’s local identity is reinforced by Beverly-area histories that highlight its enduring appeal beyond its roots, reinforcing Rainbow Cone as a city staple and a beacon for growth. The result: a story that travels well when the right partner comes along, one that can carry the cone from a curb to a cross-country line.

That legacy would quietly steer how Rainbow Cone chose its next chapter. When a national horizon appeared, the focus stayed on flavor, memory, and a simple, shareable product. The blend of heritage and a scalable plan would define the rollout ahead, turning a neighborhood icon into a national symbol, without losing the heart of what makes Rainbow Cone special.

Succession & Growth

As Rainbow Cone approached retirement for the founding generation, leadership looked for a partner who could safeguard the brand’s heart while unlocking scale. In 2018, with no ready family successor, Lynn Sapp reached out to Buona Beef. The aim wasn’t to abandon the legacy, but to entrust it to a trusted, family-run operation that could keep Rainbow Cone’s culture intact while bringing the resources to grow. It was the turning point that would birth a two-brand future built on heritage and efficiency.

John Buonavolanto described the collaboration this way: 'The Sapp family were also a third-generation family-owned business when they came to us because they were ready to retire and had no family to pass Rainbow Cone along to. Lynn Sapp wanted to make sure that the brand was in the hands of a good family-run operation. She admired our success here in Chicago and approached us, and we dug into the brand.'

That moment set the stage for a dual-brand future. The arrangement kept Rainbow Cone under a family-led umbrella while tapping Buona’s scale, systems, and regional footprint. It’s a blend of reverence and practicality, a framework that could carry a Chicago staple toward broader horizons without losing its core identity.

First Steps Outside Illinois

Expansion out of Illinois was deliberate, not a sprint. In May, the first dual-branded out-of-state site opened in Valparaiso, Indiana. A March 15, 2023 PR Newswire release framed this as a milestone in Rainbow Cone’s national ambitions. Samsung’s insights note that Valparaiso became Buona Beef’s first dual-branded Rainbow Cone location, opening in April 2023, with plans to retrofit more Buona Beef sites with Rainbow Cone branding.

That initial foray offered a template: shared space that leverages Rainbow Cone’s visual appeal while tapping Buona’s operating efficiency. Early moves in Wisconsin and Indiana served as proof points that a Chicago icon could travel, stay true to its story, and still fit a family-led partner’s playbook. The focus remained affordable shop-build-outs and the viral, highly shareable nature of Rainbow Cone’s signature layers.

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A Rapid but Deliberate Rollout

The approach accelerated with a national lens. By spring 2024, Rainbow Cone and Buona Beef announced a 10-unit, dual-brand deal to bring Rainbow Cone to the Dallas–Fort Worth market. The plan built on Wisconsin and Indiana sites that offered proof points and a scalable pathway. The strategic emphasis stayed on affordable shop-build-outs and the product’s visual, shareable nature to drive traffic and keep costs in check.

- Lower build-out costs: A dual-brand model lowers upfront investment
- Visual appeal: Rainbow Cone's colorful stack drives social sharing
- Scalable partnerships: Buona's footprint accelerates rollout

What Remains Uncertain and Next Steps

Rainbow Cone and Buona Beef stress the importance of selecting franchisees with deep local ties and a passion for customer service, guardrails designed to protect the brand’s identity as expansion continues. The roadmap eyes Florida, Texas, California, Tennessee, Indiana, Southern California, Nashville, Northwest Indiana, Arizona, and Detroit, but exact timing and store formats will hinge on market conditions, franchise interest, and ongoing alignment with Rainbow Cone’s mission. The goal: keep the Rainbow Cone experience intact as the decade-long legacy grows.

- Florida – broad appeal for warm-weather markets
- Texas – high-growth potential and large footprint
- California – anchor for West Coast expansion
- Tennessee and Indiana – regional bridges to new cities
- Arizona and Detroit – additional horizons

The approach remains patient and community-centered, designed to preserve the Rainbow Cone experience even as the legacy grows across the country.

Origin Story