From The Crew Behind Pop Pie Co., Stella Jeans Ice Cream To Open In University Heights

September 3, 2018

The team behind University Heights' Pop Pie Co. is turning their attention toward a different, but very complimentary, culinary craft with the opening of Stella Jean's Ice Cream - a small-batch ice cream parlour opening next door to their pot-pie eatery later this month.

Ice cream and pie is a match made in heaven! From partners Steven Torres and Chef Gan Suebsarakham, Stella Jean’s Ice Cream is almost ready to open in the 850 square-foot space that last housed a pet store directly adjacent to the duo's flagship eatery Pop Pie Co., which they opened in September 2016. The partners are also opening a second outpost of Pop Pie Co. in the footprint of the space that long housed Nati's in Ocean Beach. The new location will be a full-scale restaurant and cocktail bar, as well as house an ice creamery and coffee shop when it opens in early 2019.


"Stella Jean's will have a big emphasis on ingredient quality," explained co-owner Steven Torres. "We will be working with Stehly Farms for local produce and even offering a rotating 'farmers market' flavor of the month using items sourced from the Hillcrest Sunday Farmers Market. We’re going for creatively delicious, but not outrageous. University Heights has been craving an ice cream shop for some time. We've been getting lots of 'yay, finally we get ice cream in University Heights' from residents."

Stella Jean’s Ice Cream is named after a friend's departed dog that was rescued from The Pitbull Project and was loved by founders Steven and Gan. Chef Gan, along with consultant chef Loren Brent, have been working on both sweet and savory flavors for this newest endeavor. Expect a seasonally changing array of 16% butterfat ice creams, with flavors like salty caramel corn, toasted marshmallow, cold brew, rye cherry, Madagascar vanilla, mango sorbet with a sticky rice ribbons, goat cheese blackberry and black pepper, honey rosemary orange zest, and paprika pineapple sorbet topped with Spanish olive oil and Tajin. The new age ice cream parlor will also make gluten-free waffle cones and offer a variety of plant-based options. Stella Jean's will also serve a seasonal ice cream made with a sweet pie from Pop Pie Co., with the first being a Key Lime Pie Ice Cream.

"It feels good to be filling a need in our community but also living out one of Gan’s dream projects," continued Torres. "He has been making ice cream at home for some time and now he gets to see how folks respond to his style."

Stella Jean's Ice Cream is located at 4404 Park Boulevard, Suite B, in University Heights and is expected to soft open mid-September with a grand opening to be scheduled for later in the month. For more information, visit stellajeans.com.