Noona’s Ice Cream has been enjoyed by people all over the U.S., and for some expanded their flavor palettes. Founder Hannah Bae started Noona’s in 2016 following her debut at the Hester Street Fair, where she was awarded the honor of best ice cream for her Toasted Rice ice cream.
From there, Noona’s has grown to become a wholesale ice cream pint distributor with an emphasis on Asian-inspired ice cream and frozen non-dairy desserts. The word ‘Noona’ means ‘big sister’ in Korean, and carries with it a sense of admiration for an older female. Bae’s mission with the brand has been to bring more inclusive ice cream flavors to grocery stores all over the country.
What Now NY was not immediately able to reach Bae for a comment.
According to Noona’s website, its desserts all make use of hormone and antibiotic-free cows from local farms. The vegan menu features desserts made from coconut milk that are vegan, dairy-free, nut-free and soy-free.
A recent article by Eater indicates that Noona’s shop in the East Village will be about 300 square-feet in total. The menu is set to feature sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, creamsicles, and of course, ice cream scoops.
A GoFundMe for the new shop indicates that the space will be an ice cream bakeshop. Bae outlines plans for a rebranding of Noona’s including a new logo. Bae is not working with external investors for this project.
The build-out of the space at 304 E. Fifth Street will include electrical and plumbing updates, as well as adding in an oven, mixers, refrigerators, freezers, an ice cream machine and an espresso machine.
Noona’s is positioned to open sometime in August.
