20 YEARS OF HAPPINESS
How a Little Ice Cream Shop on 18th Street Became One of San Francisco's Most Beloved Destinations
In 2002, pastry chefs Kris Hoogerhyde and Anne Walker were baking sweets for Bi-Rite Market. They were already doing what they loved, working with exceptional ingredients, crafting things from scratch, and feeding a neighborhood that cared deeply about good food. But they had a bigger dream taking shape: their very own ice cream shop and watching the faces of their guests light up when they’d taste it.Â
Four years later, in 2006, their dream came true! Bi-Rite Creamery opened its doors on 18th Street in the Mission District. The vision was simple and ambitious all at once. Make ice cream the right way, with organic dairy from Straus Family Creamery, seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms, and a genuine belief that happiness could be made from scratch, one scoop at a time.Â
Twenty years later, that belief hasn't wavered. And this summer, we're celebrating the way we know best: with our community, and with ice cream.Â
A CELEBRATORY FLAVOR, CHOSEN BY YOU
To mark this anniversary, Kris and Anne came back together to dream up something delicious. Because at Bi-Rite Creamery, the community has always been the most important ingredient. They created four candidate flavors and handed the decision to the people who matter most: you.Â
Drumroll please... the winner is Pistachio Raspberry Celebration, with Pistachio Shortbread.Â
Pistachio ice cream swirled with housemade raspberry jam and studded with buttery pistachio shortbread pieces that add a satisfying crunch. Rich and nutty pistachio, jammy and fragrant raspberry, and a shortbread crumble that keeps you coming back for more. It tastes, honestly, like a celebration.Â
This flavor exists because thousands of you weighed in. The Creamery has always been rooted in community, and this anniversary flavor is proof of that in the most delicious way possible!Â
This is a limited edition batch, so don't wait too long. Now scooping at the Creamery and available in pints at our Markets and online.Â
THE OG FLAVORS THAT STARTED IT ALL
What has always set Bi-Rite Creamery apart is its commitment to seasonality and craft. Just as the Markets fill their produce tables with whatever is at peak, the Creamery's flavor lineup shifts with the beginning of every season. Over twenty years, that philosophy has produced hundreds of flavors, some reflecting a moment in time, others, a special relationship with a farm or producer.Â
But the most special flavors never leave. Inspired by nostalgic childhood treats, Kris and Anne crafted ice cream meant to spark joy and delight from day one. No less than eight original flavors have been with us ever since: Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Chocolate, Honey Lavender, Roasted Banana, Mint Chip, Cookies and Cream, and Ritual Coffee Toffee (and yes, we’ve been working with Ritual Coffee from the start).Â
To celebrate, each of these OG flavors is getting a special limited edition pint design featuring our original logo and a note about what made these scoops so special from the very beginning. Â
CELEBRATE WITH US
This summer, we're celebrating in a big way. Look for limited edition anniversary merchandise available at the Creamery. On August 29, we'll be marking the milestone with a celebration right here on 18th Street.
Details coming soon, but trust us, you'll want to be there, so save the date!Â
Here's to twenty more.Â