Rolling Meadows approves frozen dessert cafe

Downtown Rolling Meadows will get a frozen dessert and coffee cafe, according to a plan approved Tuesday by the city council.

Craig Carlson of Arlington Heights plans to build a drive-through cafe at 3001 Kirchoff Road by remodeling a vacant building that was formerly Ray's Auto. His first retail endeavor will be on the southwest corner of Kirchoff and Meadow Drive, across the street from the Jewel Food Store.

Carlson will call the place Comet and hopes it becomes an old-fashioned gathering place with customers arriving more on bikes and foot in the summer.

“It's a vision of a business establishment that's really community-based,” Carlson said after the meeting. “Kids will drive their bikes there by themselves. It will be a centerpiece of the community.”

Carlson said Comet will probably open next year.

While the cafe will operate year-round, during the summer the staff will open new garage doors and provide outdoor seating. The two driveways closest to the Kirchoff Road and Meadow Drive intersection will be closed, and an addition on the south side of the building will be demolished to make room for the drive-through lane.

The design inspiration comes from a place called Gott's Roadside, a hamburger restaurant in St. Helena, California, he said.

Mayor Tom Rooney said many residents are looking forward to the opening.

“We're super excited,” he said after the meeting. “We think some of that downtown feel can start to come back to Kirchoff Road through this project.”