I scream, you scream

After a quiet soft opening and a not so quiet first weekend, Dows Soda Fountain celebrates its reopening on the 4th floor of Mill No. 5, having been closed since 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. The vintage-inspired new menu, designed by Creative Director Amelia Tucker features ice cream from Toscaninis of Cambridge and vegan ice cream from FoMu, another Massachusetts small business. Larger frappes and classic sodas are available using traditional dairy products or alternative milk products and vegan ice cream. In addition to staple items on the menu, blackboard specials reflect tastes of the seasons.

But what else is on the menu besides locally made ice cream? 

Coffee and Cotton’s baker, Emma D’Angelo bakes brownies used in the brownie sundaes and giant cookies used for made-to-order ice cream sandwiches. Because both ice cream vendors offer many varieties of ice cream, customers who build their own ice cream sandwiches on the spot have many delicious flavors from which to choose to smoosh between two cookies. Also made on site is whipped cream, candied nuts and caramel, strawberry and hot fudge sauces.

Cross training the staff between Mill No. 5’s anchor shops means that you may see staff members working in The Luna Theater, Coffee & Cotton or Dows Soda Fountain during open hours. For Dows that means Wed-Fri. 5-8pm to coordinate with events at the Luna Theater and Coffee & Cotton and Saturday 12-8pm and Sunday 12-5pm to coordinate with weekend markets.