Sylvie Dee’s ice cream and dessert shop is opening in Webster Groves in June

By Alexa Beattie // June 4, 2024

The news coming out of Webster Groves is pretty sweet: The opening of Sylvie Dee’s at 8721 Big Bend Blvd. may be less than two weeks away. By the sound of things, it will settle in well to that neighborhood; and the neighborhood will settle in well to it.

“I want Sylvie Dee’s to be a community place – easy and familiar,” said Rachel Closson, who owns the store with her husband Jay and two friends Gretchen and John Lewis. The ownership team bought four other commercial properties on that strip as well. One of those buildings, a few paces along, is the future home of cocktail bar Off Elm. The 400-square-foot building to the right was raised to make a courtyard, and Descendant clothing store is immediately to the right of that.

Rachel Closson is as bubbly as a soda fountain when she talks about the business which will serve ice cream, coffee, candy, and old-fashioned fizzy drinks. “I love coffee shops, I love ice cream. I love going to places that make you feel cozy and welcome,” she said.

First peeps inside say this is going to be a happy place. It’s beautiful – exactly what you want an ice cream/candy store to be, i.e. stripey, pale pink, glitteringly clean. Closson said Sylvie Dee’s will serve 12 to 14 varieties of Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream, floats and cream sodas, as well as Blueprint Coffee. Candy will be available in bulk and in boxes, wrapped and unwrapped. “No, the candy won’t be gourmet,” she said. “We want to be accessible to everyone; the kind of place where you can run in and pick up some gummy frogs.” 

Inside, there are high stools for 17. There will be some cafe tables out front; and the courtyard to the side of the building – which has a walk-up window – will seat another 16. For now, the projected opening date is June 12.

Sylvie Dee’s walk-up window is open 7 to 10 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The store is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday; from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.