Life in West Philly may soon become a little sweeter. A popular Philadelphia ice cream and frozen dessert shop, Little Baby’s Ice Cream, has revealed plans to expand into West Philly and already has chosen a Cedar Park location. The property where the new Little Baby’s Ice Cream parlor is proposed is at 4903 Catharine Street, which is the old Fourth River Signworks property.
This Thursday, Feb. 21, the Cedar Park Neighbors Zoning Committee and the owners of Little Baby’s Ice Cream will review the proposed plans to convert 4903 Catharine Street into a takeout ice cream parlor/restaurant on the first floor of the property at a zoning meeting, which will begin at 7:15 p.m. at Calvary Center (48th & Baltimore). Vacant spaces are proposed on the second and third floor of the property. Residents are invited to the meeting to provide their feedback on this issue before a hearing at the Zoning Board of Adjustment scheduled on March 13 at 5:00 pm at 1515 Arch St.
If the proposal is approved by the ZBA and if everything else goes according to the plans, the new shop, titled “Little Baby’s Ice Cream Cedar Park Embassy,” will open in the early spring 2013.
Little Baby’s Ice Cream specializes in handmade, small-batch Philadelphia style ice cream and non-dairy and vegan frozen desserts, as well as handmade cookies and milkshakes.
February 20th, 2013 at 11:33 am
This will really compliment the New Third World Lounge next door.
February 20th, 2013 at 11:36 am
OMG 3 blocks from my house- all my dreams just came true!!
February 20th, 2013 at 11:40 am
I’m going to get HUGE off ice cream XD
February 20th, 2013 at 11:44 am
I have one thing to say just oh please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please!
Alon – West Philly Runners destination? 😉
February 20th, 2013 at 11:54 am
Haa Cedar Park Embassy… Nice to see the Fishtown “diplomats” reaching out, but West Philly is still cooler than you. 🙂
February 20th, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Wasn’t the vacant building at 46th & Baltimore/Cedar being looked at as a potential ice cream spot? Was that Little Baby’s or another ice cream business?
I hope they get approved and open in time for summer! Although I love the Pop Shop, nothing beats an ice cream sundae with all the fixings.
February 20th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
I think the word on the street was that spot on 46th and Baltimore was looked at by Philly Flavors.
February 20th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
West Philly Runners can definitely hit it up. Can an ice cream parlor be BYOB?
February 20th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
the old PFCU was looked at by Philly Flavors but the neighbors do not want a food establishment there.
February 20th, 2013 at 6:38 pm
Awesome! Have some great food at Hibiscus and a tasty ice cream treat
February 21st, 2013 at 9:34 am
OBAMA?
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:20 am
Does anyone know how the meeting went last night? I was at the community police meeting before and unfortunately had to run, but it looked like the early turnout was good.
February 23rd, 2013 at 8:07 pm
Stacey,
The meeting went pretty well. It seemed like the vast majority were in favor, though one young man who I’d never seen before took some time to bring up gentrification. The moderator had to politely steer the conversation in another direction and explained that while the Cedar Park Neighbors care about such things, the Zoning Board does not, and it was not the topic of the evening.
But everyone else seemed excited for ice cream! I, for one, cannot wait.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:11 am
Just checking back on this now… Thanks for the update, Lori! Fingers crossed everything proceeds smoothly.
March 2nd, 2013 at 9:17 am
Cedar Park Neighbors comes out in support: http://www.cedarparkneighbors.org/news/little-babies-ice-cream-coming-to-cedar-park/