Just yesterday, Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC), the immersive and experiential museum that’s found wild success in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco, announced plans to open a Windy City location at 435 N Michigan Ave. The “playground of boundless creativity” is taking over a unique, 13, 544 square-foot space at The Shops at Tribune Tower, according to a press release.
So what exactly is this mystifying museum? Well, MOIC seems pretty hard to pin down in just a few words, but its experience-driven installations, imaginative tours, and themed retail are all derived from the company’s founding principle that “ice cream is a symbol of joy, a universal connector and a transportive vehicle for anyone’s imagination.”
MOIC Chicago will bring not just 14-dessert inspired installations through which guests are guided by #TeamMOIC performers while enjoying five frozen treats. You can also expect to find a 3,500 square-foot speakeasy serving cocktails and eats; the Sprink-L, or a Chicago-inspired CTA “L” and “Pink Line” which will ferry you directly to said speakeasy; as well as a giant dessert-themed putt putt course. Sounds pretty good, right?
“Museum of Ice Cream has been wildly popular and successful throughout so many cities and I am thrilled to see it coming to Chicago,” Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said in the press release. “We’re constantly seeking ways to bring residents and visitors back to our Mag Mile, and this installation will certainly support that goal. I look forward to seeing how this museum will not only become an economic driver on Michigan Avenue but bring creativity and delight to residents and tourists alike.”
MOIC was founded in 2016 as a pop-up in New York City. Since its inception, the museum has become a cultural phenomenon. Oh, and by the Smithsonian’s count it’s among the top 10 most Instagrammed museums in the world.
“MOIC was created to inspire imagination and creativity for everyone, and it’s our intention to bring that spirit of joy to Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile,” said Co-Founder Manish Vora in the press release. “In a city bursting with entertainment, art, community and one of the most innovative culinary landscapes in the world, MOIC is thrilled to bring a bit more magic, joy and all things unexpected to Chicago.”
MOIC Chicago will open on the soon-to-be-completed Pioneer Court, a roughly 1.5-acre public plaza, by summer 2022.
Find MOIC online to learn more.
