After over four years of serving up their signature plant-based "ice dream" sandwiches and other frozen non-dairy treats, Say Hello Sweets will be closing down its Chinatown cafe space before the month ends.
Owner Naomi Arnaut shared the sad news on the Say Hello Sweets social media feed on Thursday, Feb. 8. "Heartbroken to share that our beloved ice cream shop is closing its doors on February 25," begins the announcement.
Located at 620 Quebec St, Say Hello Sweets opened the space in 2019, giving the business a brick-and-mortar home after a few years of being on four wheels.
The Say Hello Sweets truck hit the streets of Vancouver in the summer of 2016, when founder Arnaut was using her side hustle of making dairy-free ice cream and selling it to raise money to pay off vet bills for her pup, Babycakes.
In addition to serving "ice dream" sandwiches, affogatos, and plant-based ice cream by the scoop at the Say Hello Sweets cafe in Vancouver, the business has packaged frozen treats carried by stockists across the region.
Closing the shop is 'a sweet pause' for the vegan business
Arnaut did not reveal in her announcement the reason for the closure, but she did indicate Say Hello Sweets was not necessarily gone forever.
"This isn't goodbye – it's a sweet pause," she writes. "Keep an eye on our journey as we pivot and explore new horizons."
However, Say Hello Sweets is selling off its stock online as part of what Arnaut calls "the ultimate inventory sale," as the cafe also enters its final couple of weeks of business.
As fans and other local food businesses offer condolences and support for Arnaut, the Say Hello Sweets owner also hints that the future could soon involve a new location for the business: "We are looking for a new home," shared Arnaut.
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