1201 E Colfax Avenue | Sadboy Creamery
If you’ve ever set an alarm for a Monday morning ice cream drop, you already know Sadboy Creamery.
The Denver small-batch operation, launched in early 2023 by Michael Kimball, has built one of the city’s most devoted cult followings one pint at a time. Now, it is leveling up with a brick-and-mortar space at 1201 E. Colfax Ave. in Capitol Hill.
The new shop sits in East Colfax’s city-designated Lavender Hill LGBTQ cultural district, a corridor with deep roots in Denver’s queer community and a growing reputation for eclectic dining and retail. It is a fitting home for a brand built around big feelings, playful flavors and outsider charm.
Sadboy earned its following through a weekly preorder-and-pickup system. Every Monday at 10 a.m., new flavors go live on Hotplate, and fans rush to claim pints before they sell out. Pickup windows have become a weekly ritual for customers willing to plan their schedules around frozen dairy.
The ice cream is worth the hustle. Kimball uses a hybrid approach inspired by gelato, custard and traditional ice cream, slow-churning small batches in Italian gelato machines to reduce air and boost flavor. Egg yolks add richness, while evaporated milk and blue agave help with texture.
Flavors skew nostalgic and playful, with names like Cosmic Frownie Batter and Teary-misu capturing the brand’s emotional, tongue-in-cheek personality. Pints typically run around $15 to $19, a price point that has sparked debate online but has not slowed demand.
The move to 1201 E. Colfax Ave. marks a major step for the brand. While Sadboy has operated out of 1280 Sherman Street, the new address gives it a more visible, walk-in-friendly home along one of Denver’s busiest and most culturally rich corridors.
An opening date has not been announced. Follow Sadboy Creamery on Instagram at @sadboycreamery or visit sadboycreamery.com for updates.