We All Scream...

The tiny parking lot of Jay’s Ice Cream is oddly fenced in, as if it’s seceding from the strip mall union (including Walgreens, Stop and Shop, and Blockbuster) that surrounds it. I imagine this store predates any of the chain giants nearby, but I am likely exaggerating Jay’s origins. It looks like an island of individuality, that’s all.

It took me six months of living in Malden (a quiet suburb whose commercial activity is almost all within a mile radius of the T station) to give Jay’s a shot. The Boston winter is partially responsible—although Jay’s also serves decent pizza and subs, the ice cream is the main feature here, and who wants that when the weather outside is frosty?



The owners of Jay’s enterprisingly turn their bizarre parking area into a Christmas tree lot once the season changes.

The interior is tiny, with just a few bar stools. But there are tables outside, as well as a walk-up window (for those who won’t take the ten steps to go inside?). And appropriately, at least 70% of the menu and behind-the-counter space is devoted to dessert.

I thought the staff, while friendly and generous with the sample spoons, would think I was weird if I took a picture of the menu. So you’ll have to take my word for it that Jay’s has 40-50 flavors, not to mention frozen yogurt, milkshakes, sundaes, and smoothies. And yes, they have jimmies!

The first time I went here, there was a mass of locals tackling the vast selection. After I found my place in the amorphous line (the walk-up window must be for the more decisive customers), I slowly walked home with an inexpensive and generous helping of Death By Chocolate.

Weeks later, I came back with a friend. Kim has lived in Malden awhile, and just like me, passed by Jay’s all the time without actually trying it. It seems to be one of those places that the eye glides over, for whatever reason.

She bought a hand-packed pint of banana ice cream (her favorite, and impossible to find in a grocery store). The adventurous can try other unique flavors like Cotton Candy, Maple Walnut, Bubble Gum, Rum Raisin, Purple Cow (whatever that is!), and Pistachio. Obviously, there are many more conventional varieties, which are totally worth the damage to your waistline.
There’s nothing wrong with Cold Stone Creamery or Baskin Robbins where the taste of the ice cream is concerned. But in days where the chain store rules, the determined seclusion and neighborhood atmosphere of Jay’s really makes the frozen treat seem more worthwhile.