Nitrogen, Mix-Ins and a New Market: Chill-N Heads West With Tucson Opening

Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream planted its first flag in Arizona with a Tucson grand opening on Friday, January 16, at 4 p.m., as the brand’s franchise development begins to push deeper into the Southwest.

The store is being opened by Andres Castañeda alongside partners Gabriel Pineda and Claudio Wingartz — a trio with roots in Miami and a business background that wasn’t originally built around restaurants. Castañeda said he and Wingartz have worked together in a soccer-focused business that represents players and connects brands with professional teams for sponsorships. Pineda, meanwhile, moved to Tucson for work and began building his own base there, including opening a fitness studio named Sweathouse. 

Tucson became the launch point when the partners saw a gap in the local dessert landscape and began looking for a concept that could travel well.

“Gabriel actually came up with the idea because he couldn’t find a really good ice cream spot in Tucson,” Castañeda said. “So, he’s like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to do something about it.’ He started looking at franchises from Miami, which is where Chill-N is originally from.”

Why They’re Betting on Tucson

For the group, Tucson’s demographic mix made the decision feel timely — a growing metro, a vibrant student base and the kind of shopping-center rhythm where a quick errand run can easily end with a treat. Their first location is also positioned near Catalina Foothills High School, a corridor they expect to drive early foot traffic and repeat visits.

“What I really like about Tucson is that it’s obviously a really small city, but it has a lot of people,” Castañeda said. “The culture of the people coming to a plaza and running their errands and then maybe stopping for a sweet treat is something that we really valued.”

The partners also see Tucson as a starting line for a broader westward strategy. They believe the concept’s novelty in the region — and its highly customizable format — can translate across other Southwestern markets as they expand.

“We saw the opportunity in Tucson because there’s not this nitrogen ice cream store over here,” Castañeda said. “We saw the opportunity to really take on the Southwest and the West and start growing across that portion of the country.”

What Makes the Concept Different

Chill-N differentiates itself with a made-to-order process that turns dessert into a front-of-house experience: customers choose a base, add mix-ins and watch their order freeze in front of them using liquid nitrogen. Castañeda said that the combination of theater and product quality was what stood out most as the group weighed options.

“It’s really cool when you walk into the store and you see all of the nitrogen smoke around the store,” he said. “You see your personal ice cream being made in front of your eyes and being frozen with nitrogen, which is something that you really don’t get to see a lot. Because it’s frozen with nitrogen and not with a freezer, it forms really, really tiny ice crystals that make the ice cream way smoother and creamier.”

Grand Opening Plans and What’s Next

For the grand opening, the team is planning a community-first event with a DJ, raffles and a flyer promotion tied to free ice cream. Castañeda said the group has been canvassing nearby neighborhoods, including the Catalina Foothills area, to build awareness ahead of opening day.

Once the first store is up and running, the partners plan to use Tucson as their proof point for what comes next.

“For the first year, we would like to get at least two stores running,” he said. “After that, we will see if it makes sense to open the third one this year, or if we have to start looking at other locations like Phoenix or maybe Utah or something along those lines.”

For more information on franchise ownership or to find the nearest Chill-N location, visit chilln.com.