New ice cream shop opening next month in Rolling Meadows

Comet, a new ice cream shop, is getting ready to open along Kirchoff Road in Rolling Meadows.

Owner Craig Carlson, who bought the property at 3001 Kirchoff in 2014, said he has a few more city inspections to complete, but expects the business to be open in early August.

Carlson has spent the last two years remodeling the vacant building that used to house Ray's Auto at the southwest corner of Kirchoff and Meadow Drive.

“We're close,” he said. “Things are going well.” Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney said he gets a lot of questions from residents about the much-awaited ice cream shop.

“Everybody is waiting with bated breath for Comet's to be open,” Rooney said. “Everyone saw their white fence go up, their sign go up and people are talking about it and excited to be the first customers in line over there.”

When Carlson first got approval from the city he said he planned to make Comet an old-fashioned gathering space for town events with a drive-through lane and outdoor seating. When it opens, Comet will serve frozen treats and coffee.

The new business is a bright spot along Kirchoff Road where several closed businesses have left holes in the city's downtown for years.

Also nearby, Lexington Homes is building a 54-unit townhouse community on the site of the former AMF bowling alley, 3245 Kirchoff Road, and several of the units already have been sold.

The biggest question mark in the downtown is the former Dominick's property along Kirchoff Road, which has been empty for more than a decade. Later this month the city council will decide if it will overrule a negative plan commission recommendation to allow a senior living community on the property.