Bronzeville ice cream shop plans food truck with $15,000 pitch prize

A Bronzeville ice cream parlor and board game café plans to buy a food truck using a $15,000 prize won in a local business competition.

Garland Lucas and his daughter Kamillah Lucas opened Nitro Nostalgia at 4254 S. Cottage Grove Ave. in December 2024. The shop serves ice cream made with liquid nitrogen and offers a space for customers to play board games.

The business won the 13th annual South Side Pitch competition in October. Lucas said the shop will use the money to purchase mobile refrigeration equipment. This gear will allow the team to bring its ice cream to catering events and festivals.

Lucas stated that the team aims to operate the truck by 2027. He listed Taste of Chicago, Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, and the Chosen Few house music picnic as target events. He noted that a truck is necessary to transport the large nitrogen tanks required for these venues.

The prize money will also cover payroll during the slow winter months. Lucas explained that the funds will support a marketing campaign aimed at the immediate neighborhood. He observed that many residents within a three-mile radius were unaware of the shop's existence. "We do good on Instagram and TikTok, through social media, but we need the local community to know we’re here as well," Lucas said.

The shop creates dairy, vegan, and sorbet bases in-house. The liquid nitrogen process creates smaller ice crystals, resulting in a creamier texture. Signature flavors include Papa Don’t Peach, Purple Rain, and Sweetest Taboo. A monthly rotating flavor is also available. Customers can enjoy their treats in a lounge featuring games like Clue, Monopoly, and Hip Hop Charades.

The business partners with local organizations, including Salem Baptist Church, the Hiplet dance studio, and the Marillac Social Center. Lucas described the conversion of a former vacant liquor store into a family space. "I grew up in the ’70s, when we still had a lot of Black-owned businesses," Lucas said. "A lot of those businesses faded away in the ’90s and early 2000s, but we’re now seeing a revitalization of Black businesses."

Lucas said the first two years of operation presented challenges in determining appropriate staffing and supply levels. Traffic has been consistently slow during colder months. The shop has sustained itself through private rentals and partnerships for events such as chess gatherings, open mics, and comedy nights. He plans to continue booking local bands for practice and performance.

The South Side Pitch competition is an annual business contest hosted by the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the UChicago Law School. Mamma Jamma Dance took second place and a $10,000 prize. The company, run by Kemeera Nimahat, also won three additional categories worth $7,000. Vash Beauty Labs received third place for $6,000. South Side Sweats won fourth place for $3,000, and Ehmage won fifth place for $1,500.

Lucas said the win provided timely motivation for the business. "I’m looking forward to keeping this motivation, and that’s what [the South Side Pitch win] has done, made a little fire under me now," Lucas said. He described the support from fellow Black entrepreneurs as valuable during the company's early years.