Bi-Rite Creamery Closing for Months-Long Remodel

Bi-Rite Creamery, one of San Francisco’s most popular ice cream destinations, will close on March 4 for several months of renovations. Deep breaths, people: Anyone who needs salted caramel ice cream in the interim can head to another Bi-Rite location on Divisadero, or for soft serve, can swing by the new Bi-Rite Cafe in Civic Center. And there are always pints across the street at Bi-Rite Market.

And those who absolutely must get their Bi-Rite Creamery fix at the corner of 18th and Dolores after a day in Dolores Park are in luck, too. They’ll find a new, solar-powered Bi-Rite ice cream truck parked outside 3692 18th Street. That truck will serve Bi-Rite’s most popular ice cream flavors (all made with made with Straus Family Creamery dairy) in pre-packed cups, plus ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, cookies, and drinks. Hours will be 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The situation with construction: Until at least May, Bi-Rite’s building is undergoing a mandatory soft-story seismic retrofit. When it returns, the creamery will sport a complete redesign and even new menu offerings, a representative for the Bi-Rite family of businesses says. Finally, when construction is finished and Bi-Rite returns, the new truck will be free to cater events and roam around the city. That’s a net ice cream gain.