Seaside Creamery Verified listing

Nearly two years after opening its first location near CSULB, Seaside Creamery owner Ismael Bermudez has expanded the family-run dessert concept with a second location on Retro Row.

Taking over the former Hug Life space at 2707 E. 4th St., just east of CoffeeDrunk and across the street from Due Fiori, the return of ice cream after Hug Life is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. And the lines already forming make sense. After all, the move marks a major step forward for a business that has built a devoted following around an increasingly rare product in SoCal: handcrafted frozen custard.

At both locations, Ismael’s focus remains the same. Small-batch frozen custard made with real egg yolks, premium dairy, and an obsessive attention to texture. Unlike traditional ice cream, frozen custard incorporates egg yolks into the base, creating a richer, denser, and smoother final product.

And the concept’s birth is a pseudo-love story. Ismael had a nearly 20-year career with King’s Seafood Company, the massive restaurant group responsible for venues such as 555, King’s Fish House, and The Water Grill. There, he learned the art of making frozen custard. He then introduced it to his wife, Esmeralda Macedo—and she fell in love in more ways than one.

Eventually, what began as a business plan project for Macedo’s MBA program at UC Irvine eventually evolved. Recipe testing at home. Flavor development. And, ultimately, the launch of Seaside Creamery in March of 2024.

Written and photos by Brian Addison.

For Brian Addison's full feature on Seaside Creamery, click here.