Fans line up for Mikono, Chicago’s first Greek froyo shop, as it goes from pop-up to permanent in Pilsen
<p>Back in January, best friends Nathalie Del Valle and Maya Matta got a big idea.</p><p>The pair remembers the exact date they started talking about opening a Greek frozen yogurt shop: “January 5th,” Matta and Del Valle said in unison.</p><p>Two days later, they had ordered their first test machine, a soft-serve ice cream maker, Matta said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-0a0000" name="image-0a0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1b2bbfd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e85364f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="MIKONOFROYO_260714-018.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/50374b0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Co-owners Maya Matta and Nathalie Del Valle stand in Mikono, a Greek frozen yogurt shop in Pilsen on the Southwest Side.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>After months of selling froyo out of their apartment and later hosting sold-out pop-ups all around the city, the best friends have officially opened the first brick-and-mortar home for their independent froyo brand <a class="Link" href="https://www.mikonofroyo.com/our-yogurt" target="_blank" ><u>Mikono</u></a>. It opened in Pilsen on Monday to a long line of enthusiastic followers that wrapped around the building.</p><p>Mikono’s first customer, Amber Moran, got in line at 4 p.m., an hour before opening.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>Back in January, best friends Nathalie Del Valle and Maya Matta got a big idea.</p><p>The pair remembers the exact date they started talking about opening a Greek frozen yogurt shop: “January 5th,” Matta and Del Valle said in unison.</p><p>Two days later, they had ordered their first test machine, a soft-serve ice cream maker, Matta said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-0a0000" name="image-0a0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1b2bbfd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e85364f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="MIKONOFROYO_260714-018.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/50374b0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Co-owners Maya Matta and Nathalie Del Valle stand in Mikono, a Greek frozen yogurt shop in Pilsen on the Southwest Side.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>After months of selling froyo out of their apartment and later hosting sold-out pop-ups all around the city, the best friends have officially opened the first brick-and-mortar home for their independent froyo brand <a class="Link" href="https://www.mikonofroyo.com/our-yogurt" target="_blank" ><u>Mikono</u></a>. It opened in Pilsen on Monday to a long line of enthusiastic followers that wrapped around the building.</p><p>Mikono’s first customer, Amber Moran, got in line at 4 p.m., an hour before opening. In town for the summer from Ireland on a work visa, she first heard of the froyo shop from a <a class="Link" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@evanexists/video/7661794483096374558" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago influencer’s TikTok</u></a>.</p><p>“We don't have frozen yogurt at home, so I've been really enjoying [it] over here,” Moran said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-310000" name="image-310000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/79da72d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4317x2423+0+228/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F46%2F04%2Fe209ab964468b5ac5db936bbfa17%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-019.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fc2f3b4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4317x2423+0+228/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F46%2F04%2Fe209ab964468b5ac5db936bbfa17%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-019.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1649886/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4317x2423+0+228/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F46%2F04%2Fe209ab964468b5ac5db936bbfa17%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-019.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="MIKONOFROYO_260714-019.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1649886/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4317x2423+0+228/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F46%2F04%2Fe209ab964468b5ac5db936bbfa17%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-019.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/af1d784/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4317x2423+0+228/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F46%2F04%2Fe209ab964468b5ac5db936bbfa17%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-019.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1649886/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4317x2423+0+228/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F46%2F04%2Fe209ab964468b5ac5db936bbfa17%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-019.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>A signature cup at Mikono.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Each 23, Del Valle and Matta have dipped into their savings and upgraded their equipment. They made <a class="Link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWDIfWejKs1/?hl=en" target="_blank" ><u>a nearly $15,000 investment</u></a>, taxes and tariffs factored in, into an ice cream machine sourced from New Zealand.
Read the full report at Chicago Sun-Times ↗
Why it matters
A world story we're tracking; its significance and source trust firm up as more outlets confirm it.
- What's the story?
- <p>Back in January, best friends Nathalie Del Valle and Maya Matta got a big idea.</p><p>The pair remembers the exact date they started talking about opening a Greek frozen yogurt shop: “January 5th,” Matta and Del Valle said in unison.</p><p>Two days later, they had ordered their first test machine, a soft-serve ice cream maker, Matta said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-0a0000" name="image-0a0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1b2bbfd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e85364f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="MIKONOFROYO_260714-018.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/50374b0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c23b84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7988x4483+0+422/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2F4a%2Fc1dc74c84cd5a3cf96012538fb91%2Fmikonofroyo-260714-018.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Co-owners Maya Matta and Nathalie Del Valle stand in Mikono, a Greek frozen yogurt shop in Pilsen on the Southwest Side.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>After months of selling froyo out of their apartment and later hosting sold-out pop-ups all around the city, the best friends have officially opened the first brick-and-mortar home for their independent froyo brand <a class="Link" href="https://www.mikonofroyo.com/our-yogurt" target="_blank" ><u>Mikono</u></a>. It opened in Pilsen on Monday to a long line of enthusiastic followers that wrapped around the building.</p><p>Mikono’s first customer, Amber Moran, got in line at 4 p.m., an hour before opening.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 1m ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
Here's how each outlet is covering the story — compare their headlines and timing at a glance.
- Coverage card1 outlet1CoverageScouting report
Fans line up for Mikono, Chicago’s first Greek froyo shop, as it goes from pop-up to permanent in Pilsen
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times