Irv's Ice Cream, which serves up scoops out of one of Cherry Street Pier's trolleys, will open a permanent storefront in Bella Vista this spring.
The shop from chef Ilissa Shapiro churns ice cream on-site with flavors inspired by drinks popular in Mexico and Central America, like coquito, horchata and margarita, alongside classics like chocolate peanut butter brownie and brown butter pecan. It's moving into 932 E. Passyunk Ave., the former Chilly Banana space, with vegan options, novelties and to-go pints, although the original location will remain open for 2025.
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Shapiro said the new space will have a warm, nostalgic look and she hopes it serves as a welcoming space. She said 95% of the products will be made on-site and she's also planning to collaborate with other local businesses on new creations.
"Irv's is named after my grandfather, who had an old-school soda fountain in his basement," Shapiro said. "When I found this space with its retro feel, it felt like fate. I'm beyond excited — and a little terrified — now that this dream is becoming a reality."
Shapiro worked as a pastry chef at Bridget Foy's and Cry Baby Pasta before launching her own business at the pier in May 2024. Irv's shares its trolley with La Placita Cherry Street Pier, which serves Puerto Rican cuisine from Dionicio Jimenez, the chef behind Cantina la Martina.
"Irv’s has grown so organically from the start – it's been an incredible journey," Shapiro said. "A year ago, I never would have imagined being here. I discovered my love for making ice cream about 15 years ago, and running the trolley full-time made me fall even more in love with the process and the community around it. Opening a storefront felt like the natural next step."
Cherry Street Pier's food operators are part of an incubator program offering sales-based rent, with a goal of providing a space with little upfront costs for up-and-coming chefs.
"The hope is that what Ilissa is doing with Irv's is what will happen with our food vendors, that they will move on to the next best step for them and then allow us to serve a new, emerging chef or person from the food industry," said Sarah Eberle, creative director for the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation.
The Chilly Banana, which began as a food truck, closed its business on East Passyunk in November 2024. In an Instagram post about the shuttering, the owners said they found success in the location but opted to go back to running a mobile business after having two kids.