Music meets sweets at new downtown Palatine ice cream shop
One Palatine couple has taken the beloved ice cream truck’s familiar tune and kicked it up a notch.
Janis and Tyler Holcomb this month opened Rock n’ Roll a la Mode, a downtown Palatine eatery where music meets sweet treats and other savory bites.
The idea was born right around the same time as their now 18-month-old son, Gunnar, who made them realize that the heart of the village lacked kid-friendly places to eat.
“You’ve got a lot of bars downtown, which is great if you’re older, but there are a lot of young, vibrant families here with not a lot of options,” Tyler Holcomb said. “It’s been hugely gratifying so far because everybody who comes in says how badly Palatine needed a place like this.”
The Palatine native, a former frontman of the popular Hairbangers Ball cover band and current member of Hi Infidelity, decided to incorporate his love of music, as well.
The Holcombs decorated the shop, located near the train station at 45 N. Bothwell St., with guitars and a stage for live piano, acoustic performances and kids karaoke.
Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, a wall for playing favorite music videos and movies, and another wall for filling up on chocolate and hard candy.
Most importantly, the owners did tons of tasty research and eventually partnered with Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream out of Madison, Wis., to provide more than 30 flavors. Popular orders include Fat Elvis, which features peanut butter and banana, and Yippee Skippee, a concoction of caramel, chocolate-covered pretzels, brownies and peanut butter.
The Holcombs decided to expand the menu to also include hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and fries, which are hardly an afterthought.
Hours are currently 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., but Tyler Holcomb said they’re working with the village to extend weekend hours to coincide with the late-night bar crowds letting out. If the venture is a success, they’re hopeful it can be franchised.
“Really, who doesn’t like rock n’ roll? And who doesn’t like ice cream?” Holcomb said. “So far, people seem to enjoy the concept.”
For more information, visit rocknrollalamode.com.