Here’s some great news for shaved ice fans. Ice Cave, the popular Baltimore Avenue Taiwanese dessert shop, reopened earlier this month under new ownership. We reported a month ago that the former owners, Po Chang and Jessica Wang, had decided to close their store after more than six years in business due to family matters. However, less than two weeks later, a new family took over the space at 4520 Baltimore Ave, continuing the old tradition.

The new owners haven’t updated the business social media pages yet, and the website is offline. We’ll let you know more details as soon as we have them.

The hours of operation are: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. on weekdays (closed on Thursday), and 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday.

Ice Cave owner Po Chang and dessert chef Jessica Wang in 2016 (Photo by Rana Fayez)

UPDATE (3/11/2023): Ice Cave has reopened under new ownership. More details are coming soon.

(2/16/2023): The local favorite, Ice Cave dessert shop, is closing after more than six years of operation.

The family-owned business opened its first shop serving Taiwanese shaved ice treats in 2016 at 4507 Baltimore Ave., and then moved across the street to 4520 Baltimore in 2020. Ice Cave received a lot of support from the community during the move and was able to survive through the COVID pandemic.

The reason for the shop closing is personal. The owners, Po Chang and Jessica Wang, are moving away from Philadelphia and want to spend more time together as a family, which has been very difficult while running the business. Here’s a part of the message posted on Ice Cave’s Facebook page by Chang: Continue Reading

Photo from Ice Cave’s Facebook page.

After closing for a few weeks, the popular Baltimore Avenue business Ice Cave has reopened at a new location – across the street from their previous location near 45th and Baltimore. The shop, which sells authentic Taiwanese shaved ice and other cool treats, is now located at 4520 Baltimore Avenue, in much bigger space (it was previously occupied by West Philly Ballroom and Latin Dance studio).

Owner Po Chang, a Drexel University graduate, opened Ice Cave four years ago. Like many small businesses, Ice Cave experienced some hardship during the past few months. From their Facebook page:  Continue Reading

Ice Cave owner Po Chang and dessert chef Jessica Wang (Photo by Rana Fayez/West Philly Local)

People of West Philadelphia, you no longer have to travel to Chinatown for Taiwanese shaved ice treats. Ice Cave has opened at 4507 Baltimore Ave next to Atiya Ola’s and The Nesting House.

This is only one of a number of new businesses opening up on Baltimore Ave this year. Flavors such as strawberry, matcha, coffee, peanut and mango are on the menu with toppings like mango, kiwi and berries. If shaved ice is not your thing the shop also sells some of its flavors in a popsicle format.

Owner Po Chang graduated from Drexel in 2012 but decided to stay in West Philadelphia after earning his degree in Public Health. His dessert chef, Jessica Wang, was trained in Taiwan for five years in the craft of shaved ice.

If you like cold treats for breakfast, you may be out of luck. The shop is open 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday. On Fridays it closes at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m.

Not sure if you’re into it? Come out to the Dollar Stroll tonight to try it, the shop will be selling sample sizes for $1.

– Rana Fayez