Little Babyโs Ice Cream shot sadness deep into the hearts of dessert fans when it announced the pending closure of all its scoop shops.
The local sweetsmakers known for viral marketing and wild flavors โ think Earl Grey sriracha, everything bagel, and cricket (yep, the insect) โ launched in Philadelphia in April 2011 with ice cream-by-tricycle, and then expanded with multiple storefronts, including some in Baltimore and D.C. All will close on Nov. 27, the owners said in a statement, calling it the โend of an era.โ
The sad development comes just a year after Philly gelateria Capogiro announced it was shutting down โ this after 16 years serving what National Geographic once called the best ice cream in the entire world.
With these iconic purveyors calling it quits, you canโt help but wonder if the local frozen treat scene is in trouble. Itโs certainly a bummer that beloveds like Little Babyโs and Capo are no more. But youโll be relieved to know that the cityโs ice cream and gelato scene isnโt just surviving โ itโs thriving.
Hereโs a guide to where to get your fix, with a selection of truly excellent and innovative scoop shops, pop-ups, mobile makers and restaurants across Philadelphia.
Weckerlyโs Ice Cream
9 W. Girard Ave., Fishtown
For rich, French-style custard, head to this Fishtown shop, which specializes in locally sourced scoops and seasonal ice cream sandwiches. Owners Jen and Andy Satinsky get their milk directly from the Camphill Village Dairy in Chester County, plus lots of ingredients like fresh herbs and juicy peaches from local farmers.
DโEmilioโs Old World Ice Treats
1928 E. Passyunk Ave., East Passyunk
Water ice maker Chris DโEmilio went from hawking his grandmaโs sorbetto recipe from a freezer attached to his motorcycle to his own South Philly scoop and sandwich shop, which just rolled out a new soft serve-in-a-soft pretzel treat. Hello, beautiful.
1-900-ICE-CREAM
Available for pickup at Hermanโs Coffee, 1313 S. 3rd St., Pennsport
Boku Supper Club founder Ryan Fitzgerald has become Phillyโs mad ice cream scientist, dropping pints of overloaded flavors with names like Banana Cannon Crunch Blaster and Flaming Pumpkin Face Smash at drop points and retailers around the city. Reading Terminalโs Flying Monkey Bakery makes his mix-ins, except when theyโre junk food favorites like potato chips and Fruity Pebbles.
Flow State CoffeeBar
2413 Frankford Ave., Kensington
At this cute, colorful coworking cafe, chef-owner and master gelataia Melanie Diamond-Manlusoc makes six varieties of the best gelati and sorbetti youโve ever tasted, with flavors like guava cinnamon, orange cardamom, and Filipino-inspired buko pandan in rotation.
Gran Caffe LโAquila
1716 Chestnut St., Center City
Miss the dozens of gelato varieties at Capogiro? Gran Caffe is your new go-to, with Italian-style flavors from fior di latte to Nutella in its big, gleaming case.
Bassetts Ice Cream
45 N. 12th St., Market East
Phillyโs longest-running ice cream concern has been going strong since 1861. Get a taste of history at their stand in Reading Terminal Market and at neighborhood stands and grocersโ freezers all over the city.
Zsaโs Ice Cream
6616 Germantown Ave., Mt. Airy
You can score Zsaโs scratch-made pints, cups, and cookie ice cream sandwiches at independent grocers, co-ops, and Whole Foods locations around Philly, or hit up their shop in Mt. Airy. Theyโre also a great source for non-dairy flavors (something Little Babyโs excelled at).
Lil Scoop
Available select Fridays at Circles+Squares, 2513 Tulip St., Kensington
It always made sense that you could go from ordering a pie at Pizza Brain to picking up pints at Little Babyโs Frankford Avenue flagship without stepping outside. Now, pop-up maker Lil Scoop is taking up the pairing at Detroit-style pizza spot Circles+Squares. Look for Starburst-flavored sherbet and pumpkin spice ice cream on Friday evenings.

Franklin Fountain
116 Market St., Old City
The Berley brothersโ homage to Victorian-era ice cream parlors is still going strong with seasonal sundaes, milkshakes, and old-school flavors like teaberry gum and Hydrox cookie. Plus, you can now get fancy chocolate-dipped treats on a stick at their neighboring Franklin Ice Cream Bar.
Lil Marioโs
Available at Rowhouse Grocery, 1713 McKean St., South Philly
Art director and designer Danni Sinisi runs a tasty side hustle with Little Marioโs Frozen Treats. Get a taste of her small-batch traditional and vegan flavors like dark chocolate brownie swirl and roasted strawberry exclusively at South Phillyโs Rowhouse Grocery.
Milk Jawn
This startup maker debuted with pop-up ice cream parties over the summer and is currently crowdfunding to scale up production. Pre-order pints like Brown Sugar Brown Butter Brownie Jawn and White Coffee for pickup in December through the Indiegogo campaign.

Pizzeria Beddia
1313 N. Lee St., Fishtown
Somehow, the silkily rich soft serve at the newly expanded Pizzeria Beddia โ which comes in either sweet cream or espresso โ is just as good as, if not better than, Joe Beddiaโs nationally-renowned pies.
Sansom Street Kabob House
1300 South St., Hawthorne
This restaurant is mostly known for its juicy, char-coated skewered meats, but their sheeryakh โ Afghani-style ice cream made with sweetened condensed milk and spiced with cardamom โ is by far one of the best scoops in the city.
Fiore
757 S. Front St., Queen Village
If a single serving of freshly spun gelato for dessert at this neighborhood trattoria isnโt enough for you, know thereโs pints to take home, too. Flavors rotate, from classics like Meyer lemon sorbet to decadent vanilla with hazelnut butter and dark chocolate stracciatella.







