Originally founded in Pacific Beach, The Baked Bear will soon offer their locally beloved ice cream sandwiches to Encinitas beachgoers at 587 S Coast Hwy 101, near E Street.
Behind the brand are two dessert-loving best friends, Rob Robbins and Shane Stanger. The pair had talked about opening a restaurant together ever since they were in high school. In 2013, they made that dream a reality.
“We were working at my dad’s restaurant back then, and at the same time, we were also coming up with recipes in his bakery,” Robbins told What Now San Diego. “That’s how it all started.”
The Baked Bear is known for its customizable ice cream and cookie sandwiches, all of which are made from scratch. Robbins’s personal favorite combination is “half macadamia nut cookie, half cookies and cream cookie, with blackberry crumble ice cream inside.”
In recent years, the brand has gone nation-wide; their other upcoming locations include Miami Beach and Jersey Shore. Co-founder and co-owner Rob Robbins spoke with What Now San Diego about the upcoming expansion, which he forecasts will open around May.
“We’re spreading out throughout the country, but we’re mindful that we don’t want to grow too quickly,” Robbins said. “Our goal is to grow strategically, so we don’t oversaturate any markets. We’d rather focus on great locations, like this spot on the 101.”
The Encinitas store also plans to split the building space with Blenders Eyewear, a sunglasses retailer that also originated in Pacific Beach. Once opened, The Baked Bear will be neighbors to Death By Tequila, and across the street from Better Buzz Coffee Roasters and Flashbacks clothing store.
Robbins described how The Baked Bear aims to find locations that somewhat resemble their flagship store in Pacific Beach. Downtown Encinitas, they decided, fit the bill.
