Dogtown lost an icon this summer. On June 30, Black Cat Ice Cream informed its customers that it would be closing its location in Dogtown. The beloved ice cream parlor closed this location after reaching a mutual agreement with its landlord, citing safety concerns with the building.
Black Cat’s departure left a big hole in the heart of Dogtown, having been a staple for years. I know that I will miss being able to take a quick walk to grab a scoop after a hard day. I realized that the first-years wouldn’t be able to walk to Black Cat as part of Welcome Weekend. With all the hubbub of Welcome Weekend, just getting a chance to take a little walk with some new friends to get something refreshing was the true treat of the weekend for me.
I remember my first trip to Black Cat really early on in my first year at Drake. It was an absolutely sweltering day outside and after walking around campus all day, I wanted to go get something cold. I don’t have a car, so I asked a friend who quickly grabbed my arm and started walking. That walk ended at Black Cat, where I quickly realized why it was so important to the community. The first thing that drew me in was their outside seating. We had gone around sunset and they’re little grotto area had these beautiful twinkling lights hung up everywhere and even though it was unbearably hot, people were packed into the outdoor area.
Once inside, I noticed something that would become one of my favorite things about Black Cat: their collection of framed black cat photos that customers have brought in over the years. I am a cat person, so getting to look at all these pretty kitties while I waited in line was nice! I have no shame in admitting that my friends have had to nudge me back to reality when it was my turn to order because there were just so many different photos.
The number of photos shows truly how loved Black Cat is in the Dogtown community. I will miss taking a walk over to try a new experimental ice cream flavor. They have tons of different and unique flavors to try and they change every day! My personal favorite was always Lucky Bulldog, a cereal milk-infused ice cream with marshmallow; however, their brown butter cookie dough never disappointed!
Speaking of the Lucky Bulldog, one lucky bulldog was still able to have his birthday party at Black Cat this year. Our beloved mascot, Griff II, was able to celebrate his birthday at the new Black Cat location, even though it’s a bit of a way from campus. I couldn’t imagine Griff having his party anywhere else because Black Cat is a part of the community, no matter where they are located.
Black Cat is not gone for good, though. They have moved from one historic area to another, now calling Historic Valley Junction home. The wall of cat photos and beautiful mural are not gone; they have just moved to West Des Moines. Black Cat was and always will be a staple of Dogtown for me and my friends, and I have many fond memories of what little time I got to spend there.
Even though Black Cat is no longer just around the corner, they are still here in Des Moines! If you haven’t been, it really is part of the Drake experience, so the next time you are in the area, give it a go! Try a new flavor you’ve never heard of before or stick to an old favorite with a Black Cat twist! They have a brand new location, with another hopefully on its way to the downtown area, and their doggy door is always open to us bulldogs.
