Bombay Ice Creamery: Gone for Good?

We haven’t been able to enjoy our favorite cardamom and masala ice cream cone for weeks, and since we’re still in the middle of one of our typical mid-November heatwaves, we decided to see what was up.  Mission Local reported a while back that the city had closed the shop on the basis of a few minor health violations and some water damage.  Now, Mission Local is reporting that Bombay Bazar and Ice Creamery packed up most of their stuff and is moving out. 

I took a peek through their window to see what was the deal and was greeted by this scene of carnage.  It’s difficult to miss the gaping hole in the ceiling, which was probably a result of all the water damage that got them originally.  We surely can’t be the only ones bummed about this.  Where are we going to find five year old bottles of tahini now?  And what about that wonderfully inexpensive all-you-can-eat Indian buffet (and did any of you ever end up trying it)?  I can only assume that Bi-Rite and Humphrey Slocum are somehow behind this . . .

31 Responses to “Bombay Ice Creamery: Gone for Good?”

  1. Christi says:

    They were always my favorite ice creamery. Yes, preferred over Bi-Rite. This makes me sad. Almost as sad as when they stopped carrying their chai flavor ice cream. Le sigh.

  2. The only part that I’m sad about is that I didn’t buy a 5 Lb. bag of tea first.

  3. Ryan says:

    Saw a note on the door the other day. Closed due to rodent infestation. Hope y’all enjoyed your cheap buffet while it lasted.

    • Mike says:

      I think you misread the sign. The one I saw last night said that it was because of “food contamination”, which I assume means the water coming through the ceiling. “Rodent infestation” was another check box, and it wasn’t checked.

  4. subframe says:

    That’s too bad, they had better ice cream than bi-rite, and there was never a line.

  5. Allan Hough says:

    Their fig ice cream was one of my all-time faves. Does anyplace else in town do a good fig?

  6. Jason says:

    Awww. Their jasmine tea ice cream was awesome!

  7. why says:

    best/cheapest place to buy British Heinz Beans too :(

  8. Worker says:

    One of my friends who worked there for a while said that the owners treated the workers, especially ones with limited English skills, like absolute garbage. But I guess that wouldn’t bother most of the people who read this blog, since it wasn’t a chain store.

  9. Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

    Holy shit! That is terrible! That place was terrific, and was my favorite place for ice cream in town ever since the St. Francis stopped making their own.

  10. Birnbaum says:

    Best priced coconut oil in the city.

  11. Jenee G says:

    As great as the ice cream was, that place was a fire trap. Ever notice the loads of extension cords and exposed wires stretched out all over the place? That + ceiling hole = OSHA hell!

  12. MrEricSir says:

    I read this earlier right before walking by Bombay Creamery. And sadly yes, there were movers in the process of loading one of their freezers on to a truck.

    This means that on the western side of Valencia between 16th and 17th, the following shops are empty:
    * Abandoned Planet (soon to become 518)
    * Bombay Creamery and the Indian store next to it
    * Z Barn
    * Former Levi’s gallery popup store

    That is a hell of a lot of empty storefronts.

  13. C. says:

    I loved Bombay Ice Cream. Especially the rose-flavored ice cream… Quite sad to see it go… but honestly, hadn’t been in since the ex-girlfriend moved to the East Coast; she really loved it, along with her Bollywood.
    Also sad about Abandoned Planet, which really was its own kind of world.

    But now, so far as restaurants:
    > The “new Charles Phan” restaurant will be in the original location of Slanted Door, circa 1990-1991. It was an awesome, non-yuppie spot then, with great, affordable Vietnamese, including pho, and a great and widely-appreciated addition to the neighborhood then. Herr Doktor Professor – an admirable defender of the proletariat, regardless of the decidely non-declassé terminology of his moniker – may wish to reconsider the casting of aspersions on what is really a local-boy-makes-good story (even more, an immigrant family makes good). For more, you can read here:
    http://www.slanteddoor.com/phan_story.html
    I believe the opening year of the original Slanted Door is a few years later in this article than in reality, but I am dating by only vaguely remembering where I lived (22nd St.) when it first opened.
    > The Ramblas space will be occupied by a Delfina spin-off with a Roman-themed menu. I gather the Delfina people are friends with the Ramblas people, so the unfortunate closing of Ramblas at least involves a passing on to friends.

    Anyway, change… mixed with some sadness and misfortune…

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      C: I hope you are right. I absolutely have no problem with good food. I think, that if I am completely honest with myself, what I do have a gut reaction against is places that I perceive to be pretentious. Now, clearly that is a wholly subjective perception, but what can I say. I think that what pushed me over the edge on this particular place was the news (not sure where I heard it. here?)that it was going to have valet parking.

      But, you do make good points.

    • Slanted Door was late-90s/early-00s. It used to get press when people like Mick Jagger were seen eating there, which is probably bad news for Herr Doktor. I ate there exactly once, and my only memories are that the spring rolls were great, the greens tasted like pee smells, and the dessert ice cream tasting was awesome.

      • yentu says:

        I’d have to disagree with C about the original Slanted Door not being a yuppie place…but I guess compared to a lot of what Mission Mission celebrates these days, it wasn’t

      • Re: “compared to a lot of what Mission Mission celebrates these days”, I can only say, “eat a bag of balls with a dick spoon”.

      • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

        See, I remember Slanted Door in the late-90s, and by then I would definitely consider it yuppie. But if C. is right about its origins 20 years ago, I don’t know anything about that one way or another, as I’ve only been here for 15 years.

  14. Cara says:

    I liked their ice cream way better than Bi-Rite’s too. And yes, I tried the samosas and they were *delicious*. I’m sorry to see such a unique place go!!! Bombay Creamery, RIP.