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
editIn 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 targeted 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
editThe 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.