Charlottesville has built a reputation as a destination for good food. Yet, one area where I feel the city has fallen short is its ice cream scene. While you can never go wrong with a classic scoop from Chaps, I spent much of my first year in Charlottesville missing the more inventive ice cream shops I grew up with back home in Pittsburgh.
Near the end of this past school year, I came across a TikTok of an ice cream shack just beyond the Downtown Mall and was immediately intrigued. After one visit to SugarBear Ice Cream, it became clear that this was not the average ice cream shop.
Founded in 2022 by Charlottesville local Emily Harpster, SugarBear distinguishes itself through its focus on small-batch production and locally sourced ingredients. Many of its flavors draw inspiration from local businesses, including Bodos Bagels and Spirit Lab Distilling, giving the menu a distinctly Charlottesville feel. By emphasizing made-from-scratch recipes and rotating offerings, SugarBear stands apart from more traditional scoop shops…