Popular ice cream shop closes after 3 years in downtown SLO
A popular handmade ice cream shop in downtown San Luis Obispo has closed.
Rolld Ice Cream Company on Marsh Street, across from Eureka restaurant, shut its doors after three years, according to co-owner Carlos Xavi Fajardo.
Rolld opened in May 2018, often with lines out the door, serving its Thai-styled treats of fresh frozen ice cream rolled and served with toppings in photo-friendly presentations.
The business’ three-year lease expired and the owners wanted to pursue other ventures, Fajardo said.
Fajardo said the business remained busy during the pandemic, offering takeout options that were easy to serve as grab-and-go food.
“It was good for the community and we had profits, but the profit margins were too small to make up for the liability and attention to the business it demanded,” said Fajardo. “It’s a very intense work environment.”
Transitioning from food service to online ventures
Fajardo, a SLO resident who ran the business with co-owner Jacob Zachmann, said he has other businesses in social media marketing and Amazon product distribution.
One of his businesses, Do or Drink, a party card game, is a multi-million dollar venture, Fajardo said.
“I’m really focusing on those other businesses, and the Rolld was bringing in a couple of thousand a month in profit margin, while my other businesses are doing way better than that,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo, a 30-year-old entrepreneur, and his partner kickstarted a trend of other ice cream shops opening around town by other operators.
Nite Creamery opened in the Creamery in May 2018. That business freezes its ice cream using liquid nitrogen.
Then McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams opened its SLO location in December 2018, located between Williams-Sonoma and Junk Girls boutique.
A month later, Milk in It, also offering Thai-style rolled ice cream, opened in January 2019 on Foothill Boulevard.
SLO businessman discusses being victimized in fraud case
Fajardo was a victim of Jeremy Pemberton’s downtown bowling alley and entertainment center fraud case, he said.
Pemberton, who never opened his approved project, faces criminal charges for allegedly taking $500,000 in 2017 from Fajardo knowing the property’s lease was in default.
The SLO County DA’s Office further alleges Pemberton used fraud to embezzle $200,000 from a couple identified as elderly.
“He’s a scumbag with no morals,” Fajardo said. “I was young, like 26 or 27 years old at the time, and could recover. But the elderly people, that really bothers me because he showed no emotion and judgment for right or wrong. He’s a psychopath.”
Pemberton has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
But Fajardo said it pushed him to pursue his other ventures and he’s happy to have found success in other investments.
Running a food service business is a “takes a very full-time commitment” and “it’s a grind,” he said.
“I have a lot of respect for the restaurants and other businesses that do it day in and day out,” Fajardo said. “It’s a lot to manage.”
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