There may be snow on the ground (in some parts of town), but that isn’t stopping Eugene-based Cosmic Bliss from opening its first ice cream shop on Thursday.
Jeff Klein, the company’s general manager of scoop shops, isn’t concerned about the almost-winter opening.
“At the end of the day, what other ice cream shops are opening right now?” Klein said. “So competition’s a little light.”
“It’s Portland,” he added. “People love their sweet treats, they love their ice cream here.”
And Cosmic Bliss hopes to appeal to all the city’s ice cream lovers, those who consume dairy and those who do not.
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Previously known as “Coconut Bliss,” the company known for vegan, coconut-based ice cream in the grocery store, pivoted in March to include organic milk-based ice cream created with grass-fed dairy from the Willamette Valley.
“We were missing about 99% of the ice cream eating world who still eats dairy ice cream,” Klein said.
Now, he added, the company’s offerings are about 60% plant-based and 40% dairy. But, since the content changed, the name also had to change, hence Cosmic Bliss.
The focus of Cosmic Bliss is on ethically-sourced ingredients and ice cream and treats for everyone who wants them. That includes gluten-free waffle cones and cookies, too.
Many of their flavors come in a vegan and non-vegan option — there’s chocolate, vanilla and cookie dough in both styles, plus plenty of other options. And milkshake lovers, rejoice. Cosmic Bliss is serving up a whole slew of milkshakes, with names like “S’more Than a Feeling,” and “Oh, Hey Ginger!” from behind the counter of their brand-new, sleekly appointed storefront in the Pearl District. The seating options vary from long tables to chairs in a circle to a bench shaped like a very large balloon animal dog.
According to Klein, the vibe they are going for is that of a coffee shop, if it served ice cream (but you can get a cold brew milkshake, if you need caffeine).
The best news for ice cream aficionados on a budget? When Cosmic Bliss celebrates its grand opening Thursday, there will be free scoops for everyone.
Want to get a scoop or a shake or an ice cream sandwich? Cosmic Bliss at 207 N.W. 10th Ave. opens to the public on Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.
— Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052; [email protected]; @lizzzyacker
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