In 2020, Elizabeth and Mike Doucette brought vegan, soy- and gluten-free ice cream to their childhood stomping ground of Cape Cod (Harwich Port, MA, specifically). Now they’re bringing the sweet treat west, opening Sweet Izzy in Denver in early 2023. Named after their daughter Isabelle, the couple will opening a second location at 3003 E. 3rd Ave. in the Cherry Creek district, their adopted home since 2012.
“For us, there was never anything close by. There were no other ice cream shops in the area without having to jump in the car, and drive. So we said, ‘Why don’t we do something here?’ ” Mike said in a conversation with What Now.
Not only are the married business partners serving up irresistible sweet treats via waffle cone, milkshake, hand-packed pints, banana splits, and more. The ice cream uses a unique coconut and oat milk base to align with vegan and dairy-free eaters like Elizabeth.
“Nobody does what we do,” Elizabeth said. “It’s such an eye-opening, game-changing way of living.”
Elizabeth has been a dairy- and animal-free eater since 2012 when one, the food she was eating wasn’t not making her body feel well, and two, she went back to school for holistic studies, taking a “a deep dive into how food relates to our bodies.”
It took the pair about a year to nail down the recipe for the delicious, non-dairy based ice cream they were searching for. Now, that mix comes in flavors like mint chocolate chip, cookie dough and cookies n’ cream. Sweet Izzy serves hard-packed and soft-serve versions, which allows them to mix delectable dessert drinks like cold brew and coffee ice cream. If the reviews are anything like the Doucettes describe, Sweet Izzy is going to be a hit, especially during those warm, sunny Denver winter days. Mike had a customer order a large banana split for lunch, and surprised even himself by wolfing the whole thing down.
“He told me, ‘Every bit I took, I got a different flavor — hot fudge, banana, toasted nuts. Every bite, I thought I would done bored with it, but I finished the whole thing. And my body feels so much better afterwards,’” Mike said.
The 1,300 square foot location will be primarily carry out, and will likely be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. like Sweet Izzy on the East Coast. Elizabeth and Mike are planning to open Sweet Izzy in early January 2023.
