Try the boozy shakes, old-fashioned sodas and sundaes at this new ice cream shop

Local restaurateur Joshua Pollack saw his grandmother Sherry Rosenberg live to be 95 years old.

Just before the pandemic, the Denver-based owner of Rosenberg’s Bagels, Lou’s Italian Specialties and Famous Original J’s Pizza added to his list of Colorado restaurants a nostalgic soda fountain in her honor, Sherry’s Soda Shoppe.

Just about two years later, Pollack is opening another Sherry’s location in Boulder. It’s set to debut on Friday, April 29, next door to the Rosenberg’s Bagels location on The Hill near the University of Colorado.

“Back in the day when the soda shoppe was a thing, it was more for teenagers,” Pollack said. “Stepping into Sherry’s you should feel like you’re being transported back in time.”

Like its sister shop on Welton Street in Denver, the new Boulder Sherry’s will be rose-colored, with marble countertops, brass swivel stools and mahogany fixtures.

Customers will be able to order scoops of rotating flavors like butter pecan and pistachio, as well as sodas made with house syrups, including lemon lime and root beer. Phosphates, effervescents and floats are on the menu, as are boozy desserts like grasshopper shakes and amaro affogatos.

“We’re hoping to attract different crowds,” Pollack explained. “I think The Hill has lost a lot of its luster as a retail area geared toward everyone in Boulder. But it wasn’t like that when I was in college. It really was a place where everyone came together.”

Along with the older and newer neighboring businesses on The Hill, he’s trying to reinvigorate that commercial district. Sherry’s is geared toward families with children, with its ice cream sandwiches and sundaes. But it’s also an adult nighttime destination for alcohol-spiked shakes and slushies.

Customers of the new business will also find some crossovers between Rosenberg’s Bagels and Delicatessen next door and the dessert parlor, with ice cream sandwiches in flavors like chocolate babka and black-and-white cookies.

“It’s all tied together by that New York heritage,” Pollack said.

Just a few months ago, the restaurateur was worried his food businesses might not survive more months of the pandemic. Now, with the prospect of added government support in the form of tax breaks and some cross-utilized staff at neighboring restaurants, Pollack says he is feeling somewhat hopeful.

“We’re hoping that this summer sort of washes away the stink of the last two years,” he added.

Hopefully to be replaced with scents a little sweeter, like vanilla cream, hot fudge, candy toppings … .

Sherry’s will open at 1087 13th St. in Boulder on April 29. Hours there are noon-8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; and noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday (closed Monday). The Soda Shoppe is also open at 2716 Welton St. in Denver from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday (closed Monday). sherryssodashop.com

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