Nico's Ice Cream
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Nico Vergara
- Kelton Stone
- Oregon
- California, United States
| Nico's Ice Cream | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2021 |
| Owners |
|
| Food type | Ice cream |
| Location |
|
| Website | nicosicecream |
Nico's Ice Cream is an ice cream company based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founder Nico Vergara launched the business in 2021, initially operating as a food cart and via pop-ups. After operating in Prost Marketplace, Vergara opened the first brick and mortar shop in northeast Portland's Cully neighborhood in November 2021 followed by a second in the Vernon neighborhood in November 2022. In 2024, the business expanded to California, opening shops in Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz.
Vergara and Kelton Stone are co-owners. Nico's has garnered a positive reception. Half pints of Nico's Ice Cream are available at approximately 100 locations in Oregon and Washington.
Nico's Ice Cream specializes in New Zealand-style soft serve ice cream.[1] Fruit options include blueberries, kiwi, mango (on "Tropical Thursday"),[2] marionberries,[3] raspberries, and strawberries.[4][5] Nico's has used the Tillamook and Umpqua ice cream brands. Toppings include chamoy, coconut flakes, graham cracker, rainbow sprinkles,[3] and tajin seasoning.[6][7]
The shop on Killingsworth Street in northeast Portland, Oregon's Vernon neighborhood, has colorful artwork and a neon sign. The company has a cartoon logo.[8] Half pints of Nico's were initially available at a limited number of locations,[9][10] but were available at approximately 100 locations in Oregon and Washington in 2023.[11]
History
_-_14.jpg)
The company was founded by Nico Vergara, who started with a food cart in Portland in 2021. According to CNBC, he started the business using money he earned investing in the stock market.[12][13] Since then, Nico's Ice Cream has operated two brick and mortar shops in Portland, as well as Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz.[14][15]
Before the first shop, Vergara operated via pop-ups and a food cart at Prost Marketplace.[16][17][18] In September 2021, he confirmed plans to open a shop on Fremont Street in northeast Portland's Cully neighborhood in November.[3][19] A second location followed on Killingsworth Street on November 5, 2022.[20][21] The Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz locations opened in October and November 2024, respectively. Kelton Stone is a co-owner.[1]
In 2023, the business hid a golden ticket in a half pint in one of the Portland shops, offering free ice cream for a year.[22][23] Nico's also partnered with the Portland Pickles to offer a pickle-flavored ice cream at Walker Stadium.[24] It was also a vendor at the Waterfront Blues Festival in 2023.[25][26] In 2024, Nico's was a vendor at a warehouse sale by Powell's Books.[27]
Reception
Nico's ranked fourth in the best ice cream category of The Oregonian's Readers Choice Awards in 2024.[28]
