Downtown Phoenix has a new spot to get a buzz with your dessert. Tipsy Scoop, a dessert shop specializing in liquor-infused ice cream and sorbet, began serving customers today near Central Avenue and Van Buren Street, marking the brand's first Arizona location with a grand-opening party running from noon to 1 a.m.
The new barlour, as Tipsy Scoop describes itself, occupies 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space at 355 N. Central Ave., Suite 102, inside Sora, a 23-story mixed-use residential tower directly across from Arizona State University's downtown campus, according to Downtown Phoenix Inc. The site sits near the Central Avenue/Van Buren Street light rail station, putting it squarely in the path of student and commuter foot traffic. As reported by KTAR News 92.3 FM, the location is owned by Tamika Wooten and her daughter, Dominika Cheathem, according to a news release.
Wooten brings more than a business résumé to the venture. She's an attorney and former city judge who ran as the 2024 Democratic nominee for Maricopa County Attorney, per Ballotpedia. The mother-daughter duo decided to open their own Tipsy Scoop after visiting the original New York City barlour in 2022, the KTAR report notes.
A Menu Built for New York, With Southwest Additions
Tipsy Scoop was founded in New York City in 2014 and has since grown to franchise locations in Washington, D.C., Portland, Nashville and the Bahamas, per the KTAR article. The Phoenix menu carries over signature flavors including Vanilla Bean Bourbon, Cake Batter Vodka Martini, Spiked Mint Chip, Boozy Banana Split, Mango Margarita Sorbet and Raspberry Limoncello Sorbet, the station reports. Kid-friendly options are also on offer for anyone in the group not looking to get tipsy with their treat.
What sets the Phoenix outpost apart are its Southwest-exclusive creations, according to Downtown Phoenix Inc. Prickly Pear Margarita Sorbet is infused with Tequila Corrido, an ultra-premium, additive-free spirit brand headquartered in Scottsdale with production rooted in Guadalajara, Mexico, per In Business Magazine. Rounding out the local lineup are Sedona Sunset, Tequila Sunrise — a nod to the cocktail invented at the Arizona Biltmore — and The Haboob, made with RumChata, Baileys, cinnamon and doughnut bits.
How the Booze Stays Frozen
Getting liquor to hold up in ice cream without turning icy or refusing to freeze takes some food science. Tipsy Scoop formulates its base with extra butterfat to stabilize texture, allowing its products to reach up to 5% alcohol by volume per serving — roughly equivalent to a standard light beer — according to Food Network. Founder Melissa Tavss comes from a multi-generational ice cream lineage that traces back to her Italian ancestors, who brought ice cream to Scotland in the 1800s; her great-grandfather Federico Tavss once served as president of the Ice Cream Alliance of Great Britain, according to a Medium profile.
Because the products contain real alcohol, customers must be 21 or older to consume the liquor-infused ice cream and sorbet. Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control regulations require establishments serving spirituous liquor or alcohol-infused food to enforce strict age verification and meet state operational licensing standards.
Grand-Opening Party and Regular Hours
Today's opening party features ice cream, drinks and music from noon until 1 a.m., matching the barlour's regular Friday and Saturday hours. Tipsy Scoop grand openings elsewhere have typically included incentives like $1 scoops for the first 25 customers, merchandise raffles and complimentary insulated tote bags for four-pint takeaway purchases, according to Downtown Phoenix Inc.
Beyond the opening-day festivities, the barlour will keep more modest hours the rest of the week: Monday through Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. The boozy ice cream category has been expanding well beyond Phoenix, with market analysts estimating the alcohol-infused ice cream industry grew from $335 million in 2019 toward a projected $1.4 billion by 2031, fueled largely by brand collaborations.
Tipsy Scoop also sells its 21-and-over frozen treats beyond its physical barlours, relying on ghost kitchens, commercial cold storage and delivery services like DoorDash and UberEats to reach customers nationwide, per the Nashville Scene. The Phoenix opening follows a Philadelphia debut in April and a Baltimore location that opened in March, continuing the brand's steady expansion into new cities.
