CLARENDON HILLS, IL – The ice cream shop you know and love in Clarendon Hills is expected to close.
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But the owner would rather that not be the case.
On Monday evening, residents showed their support for the 22-year-old Daily Scoop ice cream shop, 9 S. Prospect Ave.
Owner Chuck Kaufman said the landlord is hiking the rent 45 percent starting in November, which Kaufman said was unaffordable.
He said he would like to keep shop in town. That would have been easier a couple of years ago, he said, because Clarendon Hills had vacant space. But since then, things have filled up, he said.
“That’s good for the village, not for me. More power to the village for having filled buildings,” Kaufman said.
Chuck Kaufman, owner of Daily Scoop in Clarendon Hills, says a rent hike is likely to force him to close his shop later this year. (David Giuliani/Patch)
KDL Equities took over the building a couple of years ago, with Colleen McCormack’s CPPM Inc. as the property manager.
In an interview Tuesday, McCormack said the rent was “drastically” under market. The current lease included no annual cost of living increases, she said.
She said three of the four spaces in the building remain occupied. KDL has received interest in the fourth space, but has rejected proposals such as a smoke shop.
KDL’s owner, whom McCormack declined to identify, is concerned for the betterment of the community and wants something in the vacant space that enhances downtown, she said.
“People are very passionate about what they want in their downtown,” she said.
KDL is in the state’s corporation database, with Kathleen Napleton of Hinsdale listed as the manager. Patch left a message with her Tuesday morning.
On Monday evening, Daily Scoop saw a steady stream of customers who wanted to show their support for the business.
Clarendon Hills resident Lisa Regal, who helped organize the event, said Daily Scoop is a gathering spot for the community.
Resident Mary Brown agreed.
“The village doesn’t want him to go,” she said. “The kids love him. We don’t want to lose such a valuable resource.”
At the event, Regal’s 15-year-old daughter, Luciana Regal, made bracelets that read, “Daily Scoop.” She was selling them to help the shop.
Luke Koznarek of Clarendon Hills scoops ice cream Monday evening at Daily Scoop in Clarendon Hills. This is his fifth season working there. (David Giuliani/Patch)
People enjoy ice cream Monday evening outside Daily Scoop in Clarendon Hills. The shop is expected to close because of a rent hike. (David Giuliani/Patch)
Luciana Regal, 15, makes bracelets to raise money for the Daily Scoop ice cream shop, which is likely to close because of a rent increase. (David Giuliani/Patch)
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