New Black-owned, music-inspired ice cream shop opens in Bayview

Bayview has a reputation for being the warmest and sunniest district in San Francisco, but the enclave just got a lot cooler with the grand opening of What’s the Scoop. The Black-owned business, located at 5668 Third St. at Armstrong Avenue, is the only independent ice cream parlor in Bayview. It is also a confirmed retailer of Goon With the Spoon ice cream, created by legendary Bay Area rapper E-40.

What’s the Scoop is the brainchild of 24-year-old Anthony Womack, a Bayview native with a passion for ice cream and music. Everything from the store’s logo to its menu offerings pays tribute to music—with ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes and waffle cone combinations that honor musicians.

One such combination is the Mint Condition, which is named after a well-known ’90s R&B band and consists of mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies. Another option is Channel Oreo, which is a nod to the Frank Ocean album Channel Orange and features no-churn Oreo ice cream sandwiched between two fudge brownie cookies. Pints of E-40’s recently introduced Goon With the Spoon ice cream line are also sold at the shop.

But Womack’s love of music doesn’t stop there.

The young entrepreneur plans to install a recording studio inside the shop in a few months. The idea is to empower young people with creative ideas to record podcasts and music.

“I wanted to create a space that would help the community and also allow people to use it to create music or host podcast discussions, because I love music and all things audio,” Womack said.

A 50,000 grant from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development helped Womack get What’s the Scoop off the ground. He also connected with Linda Mitchell of Mitchell’s Ice Cream, who mentored him through the process. Womack told The Standard that Mitchell taught him the do’s and don’ts of operating an ice cream shop. 

“I learned everything from basic operational practices, like the best temperature storage and how to scoop properly, to picking out the best flavors and creating dessert combinations like ice cream sandwiches and banana splits.”

While city funds and experts in the field helped What’s the Scoop open its doors, Womack told The Standard that he’s counting on the neighborhood to keep them open, and that he’s hoping to strengthen the community by simply offering something that wasn’t there before.

“There is no real experience of going out for ice cream in the Bayview District unless it’s picking up a pint from a grocery or liquor store,” Womack said. “It feels good to open a new type of business in the neighborhood where I’m from. I am just the owner, but this space is for the community.”

What’s the Scoop is open Tuesday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

📍5668 3rd St.
🔗 whatsthescoop415.com