Starting a business in Seattle is no easy feat. So many things need to fall into place for one’s endeavor to succeed. And no one knows this better than Josh Reynolds.

Last winter, as the economy tanked and an unemployed Josh spent most of his time perusing the want ads, he decided it was time to take some good advice.

“Growing up, I’d make ice cream for my friends and family, and after so many times of having people tell you, ‘You should sell this stuff!’ I started to really think about it,” Josh said.

With a noticeable lack of ice cream shops in Capitol Hill at the time, and rental rates at an all-time low, Josh decided to make a go for it. He found he could suddenly afford roomier options and when he secured the former “Church of the Undignified” location on East Pike Street, Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room was born.

Then, reality struck – in the form of competing ice cream shops.

“The same month we moved in here, Molly Moon’s opened up down the street and now we have a few shops in a few block radius,” Josh said.

The story could have ended there – with Josh awash in declining sales and unattainable returns. But that’s about the opposite of what ended up happening.

Josh found that the same community he hoped to bring together and support, ended up coming out to support him.

“It really was a community effort,” Josh said. “This business grew because so many people offered their time and help.”

From painting furniture to taste-testing new flavors, people from throughout the neighborhood gave Josh the assistance and confirmation he needed to know that he was building something valuable in the community.

“I’m very much in gratitude to this place for sponsoring our open mic night, which to me are like cultural treasures,” said Tom Ring, host of Thursday’s Stomping Ground Open Mic Night at Bluebird. “They have a social consciousness to what they’re doing, as well as serving up excellent coffee and ice cream.”

Ultimately, it is the food offerings that keep people coming back. Sure, Bluebird offers a comfortable, open venue where people can gather, relax, and play some old-school board games. But nothing makes those moments more complete than a warm pot of loose-leaf tea, a grilled Turkey and Swiss or a cool cone of creamy confection. Just ask Alison O’Neil.

“I’m obsessed with their Snickerdoodle,” said the Capitol Hill resident. “I find myself day dreaming about the creamy cinnamon & vanilla goodness.”

Though Snickerdoodle is one of his best sellers, said Josh, Bluebird’s most popular originals are “Stumptown Coffee,” using coffee from the popular shop just around the block, and “Elysian Stout,” made from Dragon’s Tooth Stout, brewed next door at The Elysian Brewery.

“We really like collaborating with local food-makers,” said Josh, who also uses Theo Chocolate of Fremont to create “Theo Chocolate Chunk.” More partnerships are in the works and will be released soon. (Spoiler Alert: Think local soda company and the opposite of ‘wet’).

Ultimately, Bluebird has grown into a place the community can call its own, and according to Josh, more growing is on the way.

“Lots of stuff in the works right now,” said Josh. “Wholesale is up and running in restaurants and that is going to increase. We will have pints in stores in a few weeks, and, most excitingly, we might just be very close to closing on a second shop. We are very excited about this. Nothing is final, but stay tuned… “

HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
All our ice cream is made on-site at our shop on 12th & Pike. Our dairy is all-natural and comes from local Washington and Oregon cows that are not treated with rbGH (growth hormone). Flavors change seasonally and often. Recent flavors have included:

Vanilla Bean - made with a puree of real vanilla beans

Chocolate Pudding - dark chocolate blended into creme resulting in a deep cocoa flavor that matches its name

Peanut Butter - made with real peanut butter, "it's like biting into the center of a peanut butter cup"

Northwest Strawberry - a summertime favorite, made with fresh Northwest-grown strawberries

Snickerdoodle - cinnamon and brown sugar-a best seller
Sorbets - vegan, various flavors

Elysian Stout - made from dragon's tooth stout, brewed next door at The Elysian Brewery Stumptown Coffee roasted one block from our door, on 12th Avenue

Maple Hickory - sweet maple meets smoky hickory

Triple Berry - blueberry-boysenberry-raspberry

Theo Chocolate Chunk - Made with chunks of Seattle-based Theo chocolate, the world's only certified organic and fair trade chocolate maker

Coconut- Mint -Chip (vegan) - a twist on a classic: mint chocolate chip ice cream made with coconut milk

Pumpkin Series - a rotating and evolving series based on your grandma's pie recipe

Apple Pie - chunks of fresh Washington apples in a cinnamon and brown sugar ice cream

Olympia Marionberry - local tart treat

Bourbon White Chocolate - white chocolate ice cream with festive holiday bourbon

Coconut Caramel (vegan) - made with coconut milk

1st Scoop - $3
More Scoops - #1 each
Pint - $6
Shake - $4.50

TOPPINGS - 50¢ each
peanuts-banana-honey-granola-whipped cream-hot fudge-sprinkles-cookie crumbs-caramel-corn flakes-chocolate syrup

Recommended Sundaes - prices vary

The Bird's Nest -
three scoops rolled in granola, sitting in a waffle nest, topped with fresh bananas and whipped cream, drizzled with honey and fudge

Apple Crisp -
three scoops of snickerdoodle on a bed of fresh apples, sprinkled generously with granola, topped with whipped cream and hot fudge, served in a warm, freshly-made waffle dish

The Mighty Oh -
a scoop of our vegan ice cream served upon a warned mighty-o donut of your choosing - pick a topping

Or, build your own...

Root Beer Float - $4.50
your choice of ice cream with Thomas Kemper's soda pop

TEA
Our loose-leaf teas are brewed in an infuser right at your table for full flavor, or steeped in a hand-packed teabag to go. Our selection rotates and currently includes over 20 kinds of black, green and herbal teas.

SANDWICHES - $6.75, add chips for 75¢
All of our sandwich ingredients are natural. Our meats are free-range and free of sulfites, growth hormones, and anything else artificial. Most of our produce is organic, as are our breads, flours, and eggs. Vegannaise is used instead of mayonnaise. Sandwiches are grilled to order.

Roasted Veggie & Hummus
zucchini, red peppers, mushrooms, and onion on a hearty organic bread with tahini hummus and organic olive oil

Turkey & Swiss
all-natural oven-roasted turkey breast, English cucumber, and organic wild greens on organic farmers bread with an herbed potato spread

Tomato & Mozzarella
fresh mozzarella, tomato, pesto, and wild greens on an organic panini roll

Ham & Provolone
all-natural ham, smoked provolone, and herbed potato spread, on organic multigrain bread

Tuna Salad
yellowfin tuna salad, organic wild greens, and a slab of cheddar on organic foccacia

Curry Cashew Chicken
fresh baked free-range chicken breast mixed with celery, peas, and a slightly hot madras curry on an organic baguette

Chipotle Smoked Salmon Wrap
alder smoked salmon wrapped in a tortilla with cilantro, green onion, cabbage, lime juice, and chipotle to give it a spicy kick

Thai Peanut Veggie Wrap
marinated tofu and a colorful explosion of veggies, tossed in our house-made peanut sauce and wrapped in a spinach tortilla

SOUPS - $3.50
Du jour, three offerings daily with at least one vegan offering

African Peanut
Garden Vegetable
Thai Tomato
Hearty Vegetarian Chili
Miso
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle
Salmon Chowder
Turkey Chili
Curry Squash

QUICHE

These change all the time. See blackboard.

A.M.
(or any time, really)

Breakfast Sandwich - $3.50
organic free-range eggs, sharp cheddar, & chipotle mayo on an organic roll. carnivore version has bacon, herbivore version comes with tomato

Bagels
with a schmeer of cream cheese, a dollop of hummus, or plainjane

Toast & Jam
various toasts, various jamz

Breakfast Cereal
a rotating list of some of our favorites; add banana or other fresh fruit

Granola - Yogurt - Fresh Fruit
a la carte

Baked Goods
from Macrina Bakery and other local independent bakers

Mighty-O Donuts
vegan, various

PLUS: fresh-squeezed juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, espresso, más...

*A.M. items available first-come, first-served, until sold out

Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room
1205 E Pike St.
Seattle, WA, 98122

Phone:
206-588-1079

Neighborhood:
Capitol Hill

Cuisines:
Soup & Sandwich
Coffee
Ice Cream

Hours:
Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat.-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Parking:
Street Parking Only

Handicap Accessable
No