Pacific Beach residents can expect a cold front in the early summer months, but it’s not from May gray or June gloom. A one-of-a-kind ice cream parlor is hitting San Diego, prepared to bring customizable desserts to beach-goers and locals all year long, starting with a grand opening celebration to take place on Saturday, May 4th. Welcome The Baked Bear - an artisan-style cookie and ice cream sandwich parlor that has taken over the space previously occupied by Pita Pit on Mission Boulevard adjacent to Crystal Pier and the sprawling Pacific Ocean.
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| The Baked Bear located at 4516 Mission Blvd. |
"We created a concept that is fun and unique to San Diego and couldn't be happier to have a found a location in the heart of Pacific Beach, opening right before summer. Our focus is making delicious desserts at affordable prices for everyone to enjoy," says co-founder Shane Stanger. “No item on the menu exceeds $5.00 and our signature cookie ice cream sandwich is just $2.95.”
Breaking into the food industry in Pacific Beach alongside your best friend seems to run in the Robbins family, as Rob’s father, Barry Robbins, founded Chicago’s Brother Pizza nearly 40 years ago in Pacific Beach with his own childhood cohort. The team went on to open Milton's Deli, which has been a staple restaurant in San Diego for nearly 20 years. The Baked Bear owners hope to have the same successes and lifelong partnership as their predecessors. Robbins and Stanger, both just 26 years old, uphold the importance of community and family, incorporating this value into The Baked Bear purpose and practices. The Baked Bear’s grand opening will allow guests to sample scrumptious confections as they benefit the Drew Kurtzman Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed to help those suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. This foundation was started in honor of Robbins and Stanger's close friend who suffered from this disease before passing away in 2010 at the age of 20. A portion of the proceeds from the opening weekend will be donated to this organization that was founded in San Diego.
The Baked Bear is located at 4516 Mission Boulevard in Pacific Beach, a convenient few steps from the Pacific Beach boardwalk. Open seven days a week, the modern ice cream parlor will provide an ideal refuge from the San Diego summer heat with nearly 1,500 square feet of streamlined concrete floors, stainless metal furniture and icey blue walls.
For more information about The Baked Bear, including the menu and hours, visit www.thebakedbear.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter.
