Among a litany of options, it’s hard to tell what’s most eye-catching at Colfax and Cream, an ice cream and coffee shop that opened its third location in less than a year earlier this month. Is it the tubs of ice cream from High Point Creamery, with flavors such as blueberry lemon, mango coconut and brown sugar and cinnamon? What about the fizzy, neon-colored iced drinks? Maybe it’s the design of the shops, full of hip-hop memorabilia, skateboard decks and — like the new location with the unusual address of 712 1/2 S. Pearl St. in the Washington Park West neighborhood — drippy graffiti art on the walls. A desire for eye-catching vibrancy is what originally led married couple Tullie and Senait Bailey to start Colfax and Cream last year. Both were used to working long, stressful hours, Tullie as the general manager of a dance club company and Senait as a wealth management marketer. “It was very toxic. It was just trying to grab money, trying to make deals,” Senait said. “I was like, ‘I need something that when people come in, they’re just instantly happy.’ And ice cream was that.” Tullie was similarly inspired by the “pop of excitement” people have after getting their first taste of ice cream. “I worked in bars forever, and people do that with drinks, too,” he said, adding that ice cream is “a little more forgiving” than booze the next morning. The couple opened the original Colfax and Cream in May at 1238 E. Colfax Ave., inside of Rosenstock Place. The building was the former home for 10 years of Ice Cream Riot, a creamery known for its cereal toppings and cannoli-stuffed desserts. In addition to ice cream, the shop specializes in coffee and tea beverages like the Colfax Refresher, their version of an energy drink, consisting of sparkling water, tea or juice and “boosts” of amino acids and vitamins, topped with popping boba or dried fruit. Owner Senait Bailey prepares a drink at Colfax and Cream on South Pearl in Denver on Monday, March 17, 2025. This is the third location opened after their May 2024 launch. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) Colfax and Cream also sells beef and vegan breakfast burritos from Konjo Ethiopian Food, a vendor at Edgewater Public Market, and savory pastries from Ajillo’s, a Venezuelan bakery. Senait came to Denver as a 5-year-old refugee from Eritrea, which shares a border and similar food with Ethiopia. Konjo co-founder Yoseph Assefa is a longtime friend, she said. Tullie grew up around skaters and hip-hop lovers, communities he said led him to conceptualize the design for the brand. “A Dutch Bros smashed into a Zumiez,” is how he called the inside of the original shop, painted in pastel blue, pink and purple and adorned with figurines of pop culture icons such as Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson and Joan Rivers, to name a few. Drinks at Colfax and Cream on South Pearl in Denver on Monday, March 17, 2025. This is the third location opened after their May 2024 launch. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) Five months later, the pair opened a second shop at 1100 Broadway, in the lobby of the 11th Avenue Hostel, near the clubs Tullie used to manage. The three locations are all in Denver near plenty of foot traffic, though the ongoing reconfiguration of East Colfax for bus rapid transit is challenging businesses along the main drag. Construction crews are expected to occupy the avenue for at least three more years. Related Articles RiNo’s Number 38 teaming up with Cherry Creek hatter on Tennyson spot Beard-nominated Aspen chef opening Boulder concept — looking to Denver Mexican restaurant opening next to Mission Ballroom Chef Jose Avila opening Malinche mezcal bar, food hall and more Mellow Mushroom’s sole Colorado location closes on 16th Street Mall “We’re going to be losing all of that parking for the shop,” Senait said. “It’s going to be difficult finding that foot traffic.” The couple isn’t short of ideas to draw customers in, whether that’s by participating in viral memes on TikTok and Instagram or making limited-edition drinks for bands headlining the Bluebird Theater and Fillmore Auditorium. (They recently made a custom matcha drink for indie-pop band Phantogram.) They’re organizing volunteer events, too. On Saturday, March 29, the couple is inviting people to meet at the store and pick up trash along Colfax from noon to 3 p.m. Subscribe to our new food newsletter, Stuffed, to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox. ...read more read less