Reynolds cooping at a 2016 ice cream festival

Counting down the growth of ice cream joints operating on Capitol Hill with last week’s opening of Full Tilt on 15th Ave E, we found out about a big change for one of the early players in this generation of frozen treat businesses around the neighborhood.

Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream shuttered its original E Pike shop late last year after unsuccessfully trying to negotiate a new lease for the location. Owner Josh Reynolds tells CHS there’s nothing yet to announce but Bluebird is looking for a new location on the Hill:

It's Nov 1, and it's time for a big announcement. Our original Pike Street store location, now in its 9th year, is closed for the winter. We're moving to a new location, opening summer 2018! Follow us online here to find out more about our new spot. In the meantime, you can still get your Bluebird fix at our other locations in Fremont and PhinneyWood this winter. And, as long as we're getting sentimental, a huge thanks to all of our awesome customers. We'd be nowhere without you guys! Xoxo🍦 📸:@ myc1996

A post shared by Bluebird Ice Cream (@bluebirdicecream) on Nov 1, 2017 at 9:59pm PDT

Now expanded with two shops north of the Cut, Bluebird debuted on E Pike in the summer of 2009 — in a space that was previously being used by a local church — with a smaller, more microcreamery take on the ice cream business. Along the way, Reynolds also experimented with craft soda and beer and collaborated with Capitol Hill Block Party bands on a few rock and roll flavors.

Hopefully we’ll see a new Capitol Hill Bluebird by the time the next CHBP rolls around.

Thanks to reader Matt for the tip.