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Malai opens first Manhattan scoop shop in West Village
The ice cream brand is expanding to Manhattan after building a following through street fairs and pop-ups in the borough.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 13, May 2026
- 17:16 EDT
- 51
Malai / Company's website
Malai, the Brooklyn-based South Asian-inspired artisanal ice cream company, opened its first Manhattan scoop shop in the West Village on May 9, marking a major expansion for the fast-growing dessert brand ahead of the summer season.
The new store, located at 9 Christopher Street, joins Malai’s flagship location in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, along with existing shops in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. The company celebrated the opening with $3 single scoops and giveaways for early customers.
Also Read: Malai brings South Asian-inspired ice cream to Philadelphia
Founded in 2015 by Pooja Bavishi, Malai has built a niche around South Asian-inspired ice cream flavors using ingredients such as saffron, cardamom, rose petals, ginger, and pistachio. Bavishi, who won Food Network’s “Chopped Sweets” competition, said the brand grew from experimenting with flavors connected to her childhood.
The Manhattan opening also marks a return to the borough where the company first developed its customer base through food markets and street fairs, including Hester Street Market and Fulton Market at the Seaport. The brand also operated a West Village pop-up last summer before committing to a permanent location.
The new shop features several of Malai’s signature flavors, including Mango and Cream, Masala Chai, Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, and Red Chili Chocolate. Dairy-free sorbet options such as Lychee and Passionfruit Cilantro are also on the menu.
The location will also offer rotating soft-serve flavors beginning with Saffron and Pistachio, along with packaged desserts including pints, kulfi pops, ice cream cakes, and ice cream sandwiches.
“After building a devoted following in Brooklyn, it has always been a dream of mine to expand permanently into Manhattan, where I first introduced Malai over 10 years ago at street fairs and markets like Hester Street Market and Fulton Market at the Seaport,” Bavishi said in a statement.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be opening our doors in the West Village and spreading the Malai love across the bridge,” she added.
Malai said the Manhattan shop will operate Sunday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from noon to 11 p.m.
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