Malibu's Beachy Cream Debuts First Retail Location with a 1940s Splash

Beachy Cream organic ice cream sandwiches hit the big time this week at the opening of The Market at Santa Monica Place, a new farmers market-inspired food venue on the mall’s third level. The 1940s-style Beachy Cream girls were busy serving up round ice cream sandwiches in flavors that many Malibu locals have come to know, including Key Lime Cowabunga, Strawberry Surfer Girl and Ginger Wipeout.

The organic ice cream sandwich business was started in January 2010 by 15-year Malibu resident Ann Ryan.

"Our very first ice cream sandwich—the Ginger Wipeout—is based on my maternal grandmother's recipe for molasses spice cookies. She lived on Cape Cod, and whenever we went to visit in the summer, her home always smelled of freshly baked cookies. The candied ginger ice cream is a recipe from my cousin, and the combination seemed too irresistible not to do.” 

Ryan said she originally wanted to open an old-fashioned ice cream shop in Point Dume, "like what I remembered from my childhood, but give it more of a surf vibe." But, she said, there were too many "regulatory hoops to jump through, it just wasn’t possible to do it with my limited resources." 

Dolores Rivellino, owner of , let Ryan use her kitchen. She then decided to start a wholesale ice cream sandwich business, selling to markets and restaurants. She also took ice cream carts to parties and events. Her first customers, all in Malibu, were The Godmother, , and the Malibu Pier gift shop.

A year ago, business partner, baker and caterer Debbie Kimble came on board. Later, Ryan’s daughter Beth Levine Stockwell, a 2001 graduate, joined the team, and is now in charge of marketing. 

The business’ 1940s motif and the Beachy Cream girls were Ryan's idea.

"It just came to me one day that 'wouldn’t it be fun to have them dressed in vintage swimwear with cigarette trays to serve ice cream sandwiches at parties and events?'" Ryan said. "One of our first BC Girls is Ashley Jay, who went to . Another, Sarai Rollins, lives in Topanga.”

The decision to open a retail location was made after Beachy Cream participated in the first Artisanal LA show last October. Executives from Macerich (owner of Santa Monica Place) saw them there, and invited them to be part of The Market.

Ryan said, "We’re very passionate about our ice cream sandwiches, and we’ve tried to create something completely unique. We’re completely organic, locally-sourced and sustainable."