The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor & Creamery

The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor & Creamery has scooped on Madison Street since 2004 inside a building that dates to about 1886 and, in 1914, became the first movie theater outside the city of Chicago, with roughly 300 seats. The parlor makes ice cream in house in small batches with local ingredients, and the case runs from cookies and cream and blue moon to banana cream pie and mixed berry sorbet, plus non-dairy, gluten-free and nut-free options. Shakes, malts, floats and ice cream cakes round out the menu, and the shop reports being named best ice cream parlor in Illinois in April 2024.

What to know

• Opened in 2004 at 7347 Madison St, per the shop’s About page.
• The circa-1886 building became the first movie theater outside Chicago in 1914.
• Ice cream is made in house in small batches with local ingredients.
• Named best ice cream parlor in Illinois in April 2024, according to the shop.
• Non-dairy, gluten-free and nut-free flavors are available, plus custom ice cream cakes.