Customers line up to study the new, quirky labels on the flavor board, choosing between familiar favorites and combinations they've never tried before. Hundreds of small rubber ducks line the counters and the unmistakable smell of sweetness hangs in the slightly chilled air.
In 2001, one of Bellingham’s favorite sweet treat spots opened: Mallard Ice Cream. The shop has created over 700 unique flavors in its career, and continues to make new flavors each month.
Although they are well-known for their ever-rotating menu of eclectic flavors, such as Red Velvet Cheesecake or Buu Chan Miso Caramel, they have a few permanent flavors that are beloved – the two most popular being Coconut Chocolate Chunk with Almonds, and Coffee.
According to Mallard Ice Cream employee Mack Radic, the shop’s rotating menu is a major draw for returning customers. “It’s the revolving flavors that switch out every once in a while that keep people coming, cause we do some pretty crazy stuff in that regard,” Radic said.
He also said the welcoming atmosphere is a core part of the Mallard experience. “I hope customers feel welcomed – that’s what a place like Mallard should be about; customer and server focused,” Radic said.
“It was so welcoming and so open in general; it was just amazing,” said third-year Western Washington University student Sierra Moran. “It’s such a fun spot to go with friends.”
Mallard’s downtown location often hums with conversation and laughter as customers shuffle in, oohing and ahhing over the uncommon flavors. The mix of students, families and longtime locals reflects the rhythm of Bellingham itself, with Mallard’s serving as a gathering spot for a wide range of community members.
Professor Scott Young of Western’s College of Business and Economics said it’s often very tough to open a small business and have it succeed – most new businesses don’t make it past the first year.
Where you locate when opening a business is very important; smaller communities like Bellingham can be a great place to open a small business, as customers often prefer to shop small and support local, Young explained.
“Proximity is also an important factor,” Young said. Prospective business owners would usually want to open their store near other restaurants, so when people are coming out of those restaurants after finishing a meal, they see they can grab dessert at another local shop just a few storefronts over, he illustrated.
Young emphasized that community support is essential for small businesses, especially in their first year. He pointed to Bellingham’s relatively small size and strong support for local businesses as factors that help small businesses succeed. “Community is very important,” Young said.
In its 20-plus years in business, Mallards has collaborated with many local businesses to create a wide range of flavors and support the local economy.
That sense of connection is visible not just in who walks through the door, but in how the shop fits into the surrounding downtown. Tucked among restaurants and fun storefronts, Mallard Ice Cream serves as a natural extension of the neighborhood – a place people might wander into after meals, gatherings or classes.
Earlier this month, Mallard Ice Cream teamed up with two local businesses, Sweet As Waffles and Tony’s Coffee, to make a striking, limited-time flavor: Tony’s Sweet As Egg Hunt.
The purple scoop featured a bold coffee flavor from Tony’s Coffee, swirls of maple syrup from Sweet As Waffles and mini Cadbury eggs.
Mallard also hosts a K-12 Flavor Contest every year, in which K-12 students are encouraged to submit new, unique ice cream flavors for community voting. Four winning flavors are typically chosen. In March, there were five chosen, which were then churned and available for the entire month.
This year's winning flavors included Tide Pods, a lemon, mint, and blueberry sorbet; Fork ICE, a mango-passionfruit sorbet; Maple Bacon, made with maple ice cream and bacon bits; Lemon Meringue, made with lemon ice cream including marshmallow swirls and pie crust chunks; and Toasted Sourdough with Jam, a jam-flavored ice cream mixed with toasted sourdough pieces.
As Mallard Ice Cream continues to introduce new flavors and collaborate with local businesses, it remains a familiar presence in downtown Bellingham. For more information on fun flavors, allergens and hours, visit their website.
Ryann Smith (she/her) is a city life reporter for The Front. She is a junior pursuing a major in public relations journalism with a minor in anthropology. In her free time, she is usually found reading at Boulevard Park or trying new ice cream flavors at Mallard. You can reach her at ryannsmith.thefront@gmail.com.
