The vegan treat truck with a cult following has opened its first store in Melrose Avenue.
You’ve probably seen the rainbow-clad Happy Ice truck that’s been cruising the streets of L.A., doling out happiness in the form of technicolor sorbet-like slushies. Last year, the deliverer of icy delights has found a permanent parking spot along the eclectic strip of shops along Melrose Avenue. The bright turquoise shop opened its doors to an endless queue of fans and this summer is no different.
Their beloved domes of ice come in mesmerizing swirls of color and mouthwatering bursts of flavor that send you straight into a state of pure bliss—hence the name. “The World Famous Rainbow Rocket” is a crowd-pleaser, combining blueberries, lemon and strawberries into one gorgeous marbled mountain of ice. Although, you can choose up to three flavors per single cup and explore your own artistic creativity.
You’ll find that what makes it truly sensational, is how difficult it is to categories this unique creation. It has the rich, creamy texture of gelato, the fruity refreshment of sorbet but it is completely vegan, nut-free and kosher. Naturally, this has gone down incredibly well with L.A.’s huge vegan community, including celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Post Malone and Tabitha Brown. Its secret recipe is a type of Italian ice that hails from Philadelphia—where the young founder Lemeir Mitchell is from.
After heading to L.A. to pursue his dream of entrepreneurship, he made his start as a tattoo artist, sleeping in the shop to stay afloat. He was soon captivated by LA’s booming food truck culture. That combined with his fond sense of nostalgia sparked by hometown treat gave us the incredible Happy Ice. After partnering with investor Ted Foxman who invested close to $1 million into Happy Ice, giving him a chance to open a brick-and-mortar location.
The grand opening was delayed by the protests, with the Lemeir standing outside for close to 24 hours to ensure it made it through the night unscathed. That’s just a show of his dedication to the project—delivering happiness to the Angelenos. But Happy Ice being all about those shared moments in the community was also handing out refreshing cups during the Black Lives Matter protests. When he opened its doors a limited-edition flavor of “black ice” was debuted where proceeds were donated to an organization in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Shop: 7324 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles CA 90046 (12pm-8pm)
Ice Mobile 1: 8700 Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90047 United States (12pm-8pm) Inside Ralph’s Parking Lot.
Ice Mobile 2: 2175 E Rosecrans Ave Compton, CA 90222 United States (12pm-8pm) Inside Grocery Outlet Parking Lot.
Featured Image: Happy Ice