“Tomorrow we can eat broccoli, but today is for ice cream.”

For generations, The Freeze occupied a special place in Logan Square’s collective memory. The tiny former Tastee Freez building — with its oversized roof canopy, colorful pole sign, and seemingly endless stream of neighborhood kids — was equal parts roadside attraction, ice cream stand, and local landmark. By the time this project began, however, years of haphazard modifications and deferred maintenance had left the building struggling to meet the needs of a modern restaurant.

The design team approached the project through the lens of preservation, restoration, and adaptation. The first step was subtraction rather than addition: removing non-original alterations that had enclosed the dramatic roof overhang and obscured the character of the original structure. A mismatched aluminum storefront was eliminated, historic architectural features were restored, and the iconic silhouette of the former Tastee Freez was allowed to emerge once again.

At the same time, the building needed to evolve. A carefully positioned addition provides customer restrooms, an expanded kitchen, and the infrastructure required to support year-round operation. Rather than attaching new space directly to the historic structure, the addition is intentionally restrained — allowing the original building to remain the visual centerpiece of the site.

The most significant transformation occurred outside. What was once an underutilized parking lot with a handful of picnic tables has become a landscaped outdoor gathering space. The service window now faces the patio rather than the street, encouraging visitors to linger rather than simply pass through. A new canopy provides shade and shelter, while planters, trees, lighting, and varied seating options create a more welcoming environment for neighbors of all ages.

The result is neither a preservation project nor a replacement project, but something in between: a careful reinvention that respects the nostalgia, character, and sense of belonging that made The Freeze a neighborhood institution while ensuring it remains part of Logan Square’s story for decades to come.

Client: Hogsalt (+ Small Cheval)
Architect & Interiors: Via Chicago
Structural Engineer: TYLin (formerly Silman)
Mechanical / Plumbing Engineer: WCW Engineers, Inc.
Electrical Engineer: Dickerson Engineering, Inc.
Food Service Consultant: TriMark Marlinn
Photography: Konrad Wazny