Inside Denver's Sadboy Creamery ice cream frenzy
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Victory never tasted so lemony. Photo: Alayna Alvarez/Axios
The odds were ever in my favor last week when I finally got my hands on a pint of Sadboy Creamery ice cream.
Why it matters: Scoring a scoop from Denver's cult-favorite creamery feels less like ordering dessert and more like competing in the Hunger Games.
The big picture: Sadboy has built a devoted following around its rotating lineup of small-batch ice creams and seasonal specials. It releases a fresh batch available for preorder every Monday at 10am and available for pickup later that week.
By the numbers: At 9:59am last Monday, more than 1,650 people were waiting on the website.
- Within minutes, every pint was gone.
Yes, and: The exclusivity doesn't end at checkout. Customers must pick up their orders during one of a few 90-minute pickup windows each week. Miss them, and you're SOL.
Driving the news: Soon, the fight for a pint may ease up — at least a little.
- Sadboy is preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar shop off East Colfax, targeting a September launch to give the business "the space it needs to grow," owner Michael Kimball said in a statement.
🍨 My thought bubble: I managed to snag a single pint of Atlantic Beach Cry — a salted, ricotta-based ice cream with tangy lemon-lime curd and toasted Ritz cracker pie crust.
- Unfortunately, dear readers, the hype is real.
- And it was on full display at pickup. One customer, with an infant and toddler in tow, said she'd traveled from Des Moines, Iowa, after someone told her Sadboy was a must-try.
- Another customer pointed a friend toward the pickup window and joked, "Here's where we pick up the crack."
Yes, but: After my pulse spiked while frantically refreshing the page just to buy one pint (there simply wasn't time for a second), I wrestled with whether this level of competitive ice cream shopping is for me.
- My wallet is also still processing $16 for a pint ($18 with tip).
What's next: The next drop is at 10am Monday.
- Set an alarm. Move quickly. And may the odds be ever in your favor.