Sadly, it is meltdown time in the Park Cities: Baldo's Ice Cream, the ultra-gourmet ice cream shop at 6401 Hillcrest Rd., is closing.

According to a representative from the company, their last day will be December 30. Hurry hurry, there's still time to get a cone!

The closure marks the end for Baldo's; they briefly had a location in Casa Linda Plaza but that closed in February 2023. Baldo's also had a mobile push cart, which could be spotted at the Arboretum and Klyde Warren Park, and was available for rental. The cart will be retired.

Baldo's was first founded in 2018 by three savvy SMU grads who launched with chef-devised recipes that went beyond the usual vanilla and chocolate.

Their ice cream incorporated intriguing ingredients such as chestnuts and white chocolate peppermint bark, and they always had dairy-free options.

Even basic vanilla and chocolate were innovative: Chocolate ice cream was a mix of milk and dark chocolates.

Their signature offering was their ice cream flight, with a choice of three or six flavors in mini-cones - a generous option for those who can't decide.

But they also had a program of amazing coffee and espresso drinks, loose-leaf teas, and baked treats such as blueberry muffins.

One item that became a best-seller was the "Cookie Monster," their chocolate chip skillet cookie, served freshly baked and hot, available in a larger size for sharing or a cute mini-skillet for one, always topped with a scoop of ice cream.

One particularly decadent creation was their Happy HIPster Sundae with cookies and cream ice cream, housemade hot fudge, and cookie dough.

Dallas does not have a long tradition with ice cream. Shaved ice, yes. Ice cream, no. Tradition being a factor in why people like things might have something to do with the fact that ice cream shops in Dallas generally do not have an easy time.

The closure joins a series of end-of-the-year closures, an unfortunate annual trend as restaurants cut their losses before the New Year begins.

Meanwhile, for dessert fans, there's a happy ending, as the space already has a sweet replacement: Super Duper Cookie Company, a sustainable social enterprise and food truck that supports training and employment for people of all abilities, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), will open its first brick and mortar location selling cookies of all kinds in the space in 2024.

In a statement, owners Ashlee and Chris Kleinert say, “we really wanted our business to have a social mission, contribute to the community in a meaningful way. When Super Duper approached us about their concept, we thought it was brilliant and perfect. While Baldo’s is closing on December 30, we are honored that our space will be home to Super Duper Cookies and excited to pass the baton to this amazing group of people!"