Museum of Ice Cream

Museum of Ice Cream
IndustryExperience economy
Founded2016
FoundersMaryellis Bunn
Manish Vora
Headquarters
Manhattan, New York
,
United States
Number of locations
New York City, Singapore, Chicago, Miami & Boston
ParentFigure8
Websitewww.museumoficecream.com

Museum of Ice Cream (MoIC) is a immersive or experiential museum brand, sometimes referred to as a selfie museum.[1][2][3][4] It operates in several cities across the United States and also has a location in Singapore, which opened in August 2021.[5][6][7]

Its locations and exhibits are aimed at providing fun and immersive experiences. All MoIC exhibits are presented with experimental design and color tones, with many exhibits color drenching in a vibrant color such as pink. In early 2026, it operates five locations with plans to open two more in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

History

MoIC was co-founded by Maryellis Bunn and Manish Vora in 2016. Bunn previously served as head of Forecasting and Innovation at Time, Inc and worked as an independent consultant on design and business strategy for various companies including Facebook.[8] She partnered with Manish Vora, a former investment banker and former CEO of Lightbox.[8][7] MoIC's parent company is Figure8 Inc., headquartered in New York.[9] Initially self-funded by Bunn and Vora, the company started with a pop-up exhibit in New York's Meatpacking District in July 2016.[8][10] Bunn drew insight for the company from her experience with and desire to reimagine American retail and traditional museums.[8] MoIC has been described in publications as "...[playgrounds] with no age [limits]" and as an "interactive multi-sensory exhibit".[11][6] Bunn has stated that rather than the term "museum," the portmanteau "experiums," a combination of experience and museum, better describes the company's offerings.[10] After its inaugural pop-up in New York City, MoIC then opened further pop-up locations in Los Angeles in April 2017, San Francisco in September 2017, and Miami in December 2017.[12][13][14]

The success of the San Francisco location led to its conversion to a permanent installation in September 2018 making it the first permanent site for the museum.[15] The company had more than 1 million visitors across its various locations by the end of 2018.[16] In August 2019, the company was valued at $200 million.[17] received $40 million in Series A funding led by Elizabeth Ventures, and Maywic Select Investments.[10] In December 2019, MoIC opened its first flagship permanent location in Soho, Manhattan.[18][19][20]

In 2020, MoIC paused its operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening for normal operations in 2021. Prior to closing due to the social distancing and hygiene laws imposed during the pandemic, it had many celebrity visitors, including Beyonce and Kim Kardashian.[21] It was also criticised for an exhibit supporting Black Lives Matter around the same time.[22][23] Bunn issued an apology and MoIC repainted the plywood black and corrected the error.[22][23] Criticisms of Bunn and MoIC fostering a hostile work environment were investigated.[24][22] A spokesperson for the brand stated that protocols are in place to provide a healthy work environment for everyone.[22] In April 2021, the Singapore Tourism Board announced that MoIC will be opening its first permanent overseas location in Singapore in August 2021.[25][26] Exhibits at the Singapore location included special heritage themed attractions such as the "Dragon Playground".[27][28] Also in August 2021, the MoIC opened a permanent location in Austin, Texas.[29]

In July 2021 it was confirmed that as a result of pressures related to the COVID-19 pandemic the museum's permanent installation in San Francsico would be closing, making the San Francisco location the first permanent site to be shuttered.[30] In July and August 2022 respectively, MoIC launched two new locations; the first a permanent location in Tribune Tower, Chicago and the second a pop up location in Shanghai, China.[5][31][32]

In July and November 2023 respectively, it was announced that two new permanent locations would be opening in Miami and Boston.[33][34] The Miami location officially opened at the Miami Worldcenter in September 2024 and the Boston location officially opened in December 2024.[35][36]

In July 2025 it was confirmed that its Austin site would be closing permanently when its lease agreement came to an end.[37] During the same month, MOIC's New York location applied to extend its opening hours beyond the current 8pm closing time. It was hoped that by extending the opening hours, it would increase its exposure to the night time economy and diversify its visitors to compete with other late night museums .[38] On July 20, 2025, MOIC Singapore announced that it would be giving a free cone of ice cream to any visitor on the day.[39]

In January and September 2025 respectively, MoIC announced that it would be opening two more new permanent locations by the end of 2026; the first in Las Vegas's Area15 and the second in Los Angeles.[40] The Los Angeles location is set to be the first fully ground up structure designed by MoIC.[41] In late 2025, a third new opening was announced in the city of Orlando, expected to open its doors in 2026.[42]

Exhibits & products

MoIC offers visitors multi-room format of interactive installations at each of its locations, along with food options that include including ice cream sampling.

It has expanded its presence beyond the museum experience by developing its own ice cream brand, featuring seven distinct flavors, available at Target starting in 2018.[43] Flavors included Piñata, Sprinkle Pool, and Vanillionaire.[43] Additionally, MOIC ice cream products were sold in Albertsons.[9] While the company continues to produce its ice cream brand overseas, Target has discontinued selling MoIC products.[22] MoIC has also ventured into other categories including children's apparel, a makeup line offered by Sephora, and other various merchandise products.[9]

MOIC offering is based on different exhibits at sites, along with rotating or seasonal attractions. The Creamliner is an exhibit at some MOIC locations, which features a 1960s-style airline experience, mixing retro‑nostalgia with experiential design.[44] Beginning in December each year, MOIC locations host an annual festive exhibit referred to as "Pinkmas."[45] The exhibit includes a life-sized snow globe that visitors can walkthrough, a wishing tree, and festive-inspired ice creams.[46]

Current locations

City Opening date Address
SoHo, Manhattan December 2019 558 Broadway, New York, NY, 10012
Singapore August 2021 100 Loewen Road, Dempsey, Singapore 248837
Chicago July 2022 435 Michigan Ave Suite G, Chicago, IL 60611
Miami September 2024 851 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33132
Boston December 2024 121 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA 02210

Recognition

References

  1. ^ Goldstein, Caroline (April 25, 2018). "8 Instagram-Ready Art Attractions That Prove the Museum of Ice Cream Was Just the Beginning". Artnet News. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  2. ^ Article, Tim Schneider ShareShare This (August 26, 2019). "The Gray Market: Why New York's Museum of Ice Cream Wins at Business by Betraying Its Name (and Other Insights)". Artnet News. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  3. ^ "SF's Museum of Ice Cream Is Dunzo". SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  4. ^ Allen, Kelsey (May 27, 2025). "From Ice Cream to Bunnies, Can Anything Become a Museum?". Thrillist. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Miller, Ben (October 6, 2021). "Museum of Ice Cream to open in Chicago's Tribune Tower". Chicago Business Journal.
  6. ^ a b Silman, Anna (February 21, 2020). "Could You Survive a Day at the Museum of Ice Cream With No Phone?". The Cut. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Eldor, Karin (March 7, 2019). "Maryellis Bunn, Founder Of Museum Of Ice Cream, Plans To Change The World". Forbes.
  8. ^ a b c d Wiener, Anna (October 2, 2017). "The Millennial Walt Disney". New York Magazine. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Roof, Katie (April 14, 2019). "Museum of Ice Cream Valued at $200 Million". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Cao, Sissi (October 9, 2019). "Everything You Think You Know About the Museum of Ice Cream Is Wrong: Interview With CEO". Observer. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  11. ^ Guse, Clayton (June 7, 2018). "Stop saying the Museum of Ice Cream is cool". TimeOut. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "LA's Museum Of Ice Cream: Where You'll Get Your Next Great Selfie". LAist. laist.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  13. ^ Pereira, Alyssa. "The Museum of Ice Cream is headed to San Francisco this September". SFGATE. sfgate.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  14. ^ Fowler, Olee. "The Museum of Ice Cream is Opening in Miami This December". Eater. miami.eater.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  15. ^ Heath, Emma. "The Museum of Ice Cream announces it will stay in SF permanently". SFGATE. sfgate.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  16. ^ McCormick, Emily (August 15, 2018). "What If the Museum of Ice Cream Is the Future of Retail?". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  17. ^ Kuesel, Christy (August 16, 2019). "The Museum of Ice Cream has been valued at $200 million". Artsy.
  18. ^ Ifeanyi, KC (August 21, 2019). "The Museum of Ice Cream is returning to New York City with a permanent location". Fast Company.
  19. ^ Gonzales, Guadalupe (November 20, 2019). "How This 27-Year-Old Turned a Whimsical Summer Project Into a Business Valued at $200 Million". Inc.
  20. ^ Fabricant, Florence (December 10, 2019). "Museum of Ice Cream Returns With a Bigger Space". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  21. ^ Montag, Ali (September 1, 2021). "The Museum of Ice Cream is back, proving experiential marketing is still alive". Fortune (magazine).
  22. ^ a b c d e Wilson, Alexandra; McGrath, Maggie (July 2, 2020). "The Meltdown at the Museum of Ice Cream". Forbes. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  23. ^ a b Lakin, Max (June 22, 2020). "Opinion | When Luxury Stores Decorate Their Riot Barricades With Protest Art". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  24. ^ Reynolds, Megan (July 2, 2020). "Unsurprisingly the Museum of Ice Cream Seems Like a Very Shitty Place to Work". Jezebel.
  25. ^ Tang, See Kit. "Museum of Ice Cream among 3 tourist attractions opening in Singapore". CNA. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  26. ^ "The Museum of Ice Cream Opens Its Doors in Singapore!". Shout. April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  27. ^ Lim, Jessie (April 12, 2021). "Museum of Ice Cream to open in Dempsey in August". The Straits Times. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  28. ^ Rohani, Siti (April 12, 2021). "'Dragon Playground' and sprinkle pool: What to expect at Singapore's Museum of Ice Cream". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  29. ^ Webb, Eric (August 26, 2021). "A sprinkle pool, you say? What you need to know about Austin's Museum of Ice Cream". Austin American-Statesman.
  30. ^ Barreira, Alex. "S.F. Museum of Ice Cream has permanently closed". SAN FRANCISCO BUSINESS TIMES. bizjournals.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  31. ^ Davis, Alice (August 29, 2022). "Museum of Ice Cream's fifth location opens its doors in Shanghai | Planet Attractions". Planet Attractions.
  32. ^ Mckenzie, Richmond (July 15, 2022). "Here's the Scoop: Museum of Ice Cream Chicago Opens on Michigan Avenue". WTTW News.
  33. ^ Nunez, Oscar. "Museum Of Ice Cream To Open Permanent Location At Miami Worldcenter In 2024". Florida YIMBY. floridayimby.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  34. ^ Loesch, Cailin. "Dive Into A Sprinkle Pool At The Museum Of Ice Cream Coming To Boston". Patch. patch.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  35. ^ Fowler, Olee. "Museum of Ice Cream Finds a Permanent Home at Miami Worldcenter". Eater. miami.eater.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  36. ^ Jacobson, Seth. "Boston is getting its very own Instagram famous Ice Cream Museum. Here's how to go". The Patriot Ledger. patriotledger.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  37. ^ Bass, Isabella (May 18, 2025). "Museum of Ice Cream at the Domain closing doors at the end of their lease". CBS Austin.
  38. ^ Kodé, Anna; Fortney, Luke (June 12, 2025). "I Scream, You Scream. They Don't Scream for Ice Cream". NY Times.
  39. ^ Chow, Adira (July 18, 2025). "Museum of Ice Cream is giving away free ice cream this Sunday on July 20, 2025". Time Out (magazine).
  40. ^ Karel, Janna. "Las Vegas's New Buffet Comes From the Largest-Ever Museum of Ice Cream". Eater. vegas.eater.com. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  41. ^ Sharp, Steven. "Museum of Ice Cream takes shape at 5252 W. Adams Boulevard". URBANIZE. la.urbanize.city. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  42. ^ Tolley, Patricia. "Museum of Ice Cream scoops up new location in Orlando's tourism district". Biz Journals.
  43. ^ a b Kelso, Alicia (June 11, 2018). "Target scoops up exclusive partnership with Museum of Ice Cream". FoodDive. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  44. ^ Kornblue, Paige (November 5, 2025). "A Sweet Stop: Inside Miami's Museum of Ice Cream". Boca (magazine).
  45. ^ Miranda, Alex. "A forest of pink engulfs the Museum of Ice Cream during 'Pinkmas' with holiday drinks and unlimited ice cream". WSVN.
  46. ^ "Pinkmas at Museum of Ice Cream Chicago". Time Out (magazine).
  47. ^ a b c "NEW Webby Gallery + Index". NEW Webby Gallery + Index.
  48. ^ "THE WORLD'S MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES 2018 HONOREES BY SECTOR". Fast Company.
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