02/23/09

Family Friend Fun

by jdtorres

It?s one of those February days where the bright sun masks the cold. Despite the chill, people of all ages crowd the small corner shop that is Joe?s Ice Cream on Geary Boulevard. A retro-styled dinner, Joe?s Ice Cream keeps employees busy as they serve crowds of people.

?Oh I love it, it?s my second home!? said Aki Murashige, co-owner of the Richmond staple.

Open since 1959, the Murashige family bought it in 1979 and has run it since. Though the original Joe no longer owns the shop, the family still uses his recipes?and his name?for the ice cream they make on site.

The shop itself is tiny; a couple of tables on one side, and a low, child-size lunch counter along the window is all the sitting that the space allows. The fixture that takes up most of the space is a glass-walled room where patrons can see Mutsuhiko Murshige make the ice cream daily.

?It?s great that they make it here,? said Mike Wylie, 45. Wylie and his son, 6-year-old Lucas, are regulars at the shop, usually stopping in after running errands.

Staffed by mainly the Murashige family, Joe?s Ice Cream gives off a family friendly vibe that keeps people coming back for more.

?We?re definitely coming back,? said Laura Hidalgo of Santa Rosa. Hidalgo and her family had come for a day trip and decided to stop when they drove by. ?You can tell this is a great local neighborhood sort of place.?

The shop hosts a variety of clients as the store is open till 11 o?clock most nights. The ice-cream goers vary from families enjoying a treat after playing at the nearby Argonne playground to couples enjoying a cold dessert after dinner at nearby restaurants. ?People always want ice cream,? said Valerie Iwamasa, 26, a family member and employee.

?I never thought I would work here,? Iwamasa said, commenting on how she left a full-time job to work at the shop. ?But [this is] a better job. It?s a lot more fun.?

08/31/08

I LOVE JOES ICE CREAM!

by bolloint

We used to trick or treat and joes was one of are stops halloween night! I can honestly say joe makes some of the best ice cream on earth.

• Pros: good
• Cons: real good

07/07/08

Perfection!

by baybesf

I really love my neighborhood and Joe's Ice Cream is one more great reason. As has been said, it's home made but what has not been mentioned is they now have some sugar free/fat free flavors. They are totally keeping up with the times. This is really the best place for ice cream, far better than supermarket brands. The service is excellent too. Just be careful, it's deliciously addictive!

• Pros: Unbelieveably good, old fashioned hand made ice cream, now with lo cal options
• Cons: toooo tempting!