Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is an ice cream parlor in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City. The business opened in 1977, and is known for their Asian-inspired ice cream flavors. They have also opened two additional locations, in Flushing and the Lower East Side.[1]
History
[edit]In 1977, Chinese-American businessman Phillip Seid and one of his brothers opened Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, selling 45 cent ice cream scoops.[2][3] Seid was inspired by the success of a nearby Carvel shop, but set out to create flavors that would appeal to the Asian-American market.[4] Early flavors offered included cherry vanilla, coffee brandy, lychee, papaya, red mango, and rocky road.[5] The store struggled in its first decade, and was at times targetted by gangs, as Seid refused to pay them extortion money.[4] In 2002, the business was taken over by Seid's daughter, Christina Seid,[4] who remains the owner as of 2023.[1]
In late 2018, the business opened a store in Flushing, named The Original Flushing Ice Cream Factory.[6] The business opened a third location in the Essex Market on the Lower East Side, opening in 2019 following the market's relocation.[1][7][8]
Flavors
[edit]The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is best known for their Asian-inspired flavors, which have included almond cookie, green tea, lychee, mango, pandan, red bean, taro, Thai tea, and ube.[2][7][9] After Christina Seid took over the business in the early 2000s, she introduced new flavors such as black sesame, durian, egg custard, and 'zen butter', a sesame-based flavor.[3] They also serve more typically American ice cream flavors, including chocolate, coffee, cookies and cream, mint chip, pistachio, rocky road, and vanilla.[2][7][10]
The Flushing location also serves more Korean-inspired flavors.[6]
In addition to ice cream, the business also sells ice cream cakes.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Iseman, Courtney (June 25, 2019). "At iconic Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, it's about (40 years of) history". amNewYork. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Snow, Jackie (July 3, 2015). "Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Where a Scoop of Durian Is Plain Vanilla". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Holtze, Carla (March 20, 2008). "Chinatown Ice Cream Factory gets a scoop of business savvy". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nguyen, Sahra Vang (April 16, 2015). "Red Bean to Rocky Road, the Evolution of Chinatown Ice Cream". NBC News. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ R., A. (September 11, 1978). "News for Coneheads". The Village Voice. p. 88. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Sackman, Meghan (December 6, 2018). "Ice Cream Store to Open in Flushing Saturday". Flushing Post. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c "The Best Ice Cream Shops In The US, According To Mashed Staff". Mashed. July 21, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Tuder, Stefanie (December 12, 2017). "Chinatown Ice Cream Factory to Add Second Scoop Shop on Lower East Side". Eater NY. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Sutherland-Namako, Amber (May 24, 2023). "NYC's 12 best ice cream shops". Time Out New York. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "16 Essential Ice Cream Shops in New York City". Eater NY. April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2024.