NEW YORK CITY — A nostalgic ice cream experience has officially arrived on the Lower East Side with the opening of Julia Jean’s, a new scoop shop rooted in tradition and family memories. The shop made its debut on Saturday, May 17, at 202 Clinton Street, near East Broadway.
The brainchild of Ayanna Quint, a former photo editor turned dessert entrepreneur, Julia Jean’s offers a selection of classic ice cream flavors and whimsical creations that harken back to vintage American ice cream parlors. Guests can choose from staples like cherry-vanilla, cookies and cream, strawberry, and salted caramel, along with refreshing sorbet options including mango, nectarine, orange, and lemon.
One standout feature is Quint’s signature “ice cream showers” — delicate chocolate flakes reminiscent of stracciatella — a tribute to her childhood visits to Ortman’s Ice Cream Parlor in Berkeley, California. Julia Jean’s serves both scoops and pints for take-home enjoyment.
Beyond the basics, the shop features a playful menu of elaborate sundaes and layered desserts. The Banana Split pays homage to Quint’s mother with the traditional trio of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice creams, served with bananas, hot fudge, whipped cream, almonds, and cherries. More inventive options include The Boss — coffee and toasted almond ice creams layered with hot fudge and chopped almonds — and The Marshmallow Situation, a chocolate-vanilla combo swirled with marshmallow sauce and graham crackers. Also on offer: milkshakes, fountain drinks, brownies, cookies, ice cream sandwiches, and custom-order cakes.
Quint’s journey into the world of frozen desserts took a nontraditional route. After a media career that included editorial roles at W, Teen People, and Out, she pivoted during the pandemic. Baking became a daily ritual — and eventually, a calling. She honed her pastry skills at Partybus Bakeshop on the Lower East Side before deciding to pursue her dream of opening a family-friendly ice cream shop.
“Making dessert for other people and bringing them joy through food was more rewarding to me than being a photo editor,” Quint shared via email.
To deepen her craft, she studied at Penn State’s renowned ice cream course and trained with equipment maker Carpigiani. She also gained experience at Brooklyn’s Malai before launching ice cream pop-ups last summer at Partybus, which helped lay the groundwork for her new shop.
Now open Thursdays through Sundays with late-night hours on weekends, Julia Jean’s is a cozy space — just three or four seats — but packed with personality. It represents a meaningful pivot for Quint and an exciting new destination for anyone in search of a comforting treat on a warm day.
With its thoughtfully developed flavors and clear community focus, Julia Jean’s stands as a sweet new addition to New York’s latest ice cream franchise landscape — and a reminder that sometimes, a scoop of the past is exactly what the present needs.
For those exploring future ice cream franchise opportunities inspired by nostalgic charm and artisanal quality, Julia Jean’s may be a model to watch.
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