Creamery Chain to Be Auctioned Off

South suburban ice cream parlor chain The Creamery will soon belong to the highest bidder.

Owner William A. McEnery plans to auction the soft-serve ice cream chain in the spring. Buyers can bid on one or multiple stores, and McEnery said he’s not currently eyeing a particular price, Crain’s Chicago Business reports.

McEnery bought the chain of seasonal sweets shops from his father in 2011, for more than $3 million. It’s estimated the best-performing locations generate approximately $600,000 in revenue each year.

The auction will take place April 7 at 7 p.m., at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago-Alsip. Each offering will include all of the stores’ assets and equipment, as well as the land upon which each location sits. The plan is to sell the chain before the prime season sets in, McEnery told Crain’s. He has taken on a new role at an investment bank and simply won’t have the time to keep the Creamery churning.

“We want to get them out of our hands before ice cream season gets rolling and I think any buyer would kind of want them as well before your knee-deep in 90-degree weather,” McEnery said.

Don’t worry, though—the stores will stay up and running until sold. The first opened in Frankfort in 1981, and now locations are open in New Lenox, Manhattan, Manteno, Mokena, Orland Hills, and Homer Glen.