When Leigh-Anne Weiss saw the April 21 Facebook post announcing that Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream shop in Oakland is closing this week because owner Andy Hardie is retiring, she said she had to comment.
“This is sad when you hear about such a great place closing,” said Weiss, of Plum.
“My husband went to Pitt and loves Dave & Andy’s ice cream. We have taken the kids there. He recalls the smell of the homemade waffle cones when you walk past the shop. There are so many memories of Dave & Andy’s.”
One of the memories for Weiss was Oct. 8, 2006. She had given birth to her daughter Caitlin in UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Oakland in the early morning hours. After hours overnight of labor, she was exhausted. When she woke around lunchtime, her husband David wasn’t there.
“I was like, where is he?’” she said.
“Where could he be?”
Moments later, David Weiss walked into the room with a pint of chocolate peanut butter ice cream from Dave & Andy’s, located a few blocks away. He also brought her favorite appetizer from Mad Mex — potatoes and black beans in a tortilla with sour cream.
“He knew I would be hungry,” she said.
“Those are two of my favorites.”
Now, both will be gone. Mad Mex closed in 2023 and the last day for Dave & Andy’s will be Sunday or earlier while supplies last. A sign explains that on the window, as does the social media post Weiss spotted.
“It is with mixed emotions that we announce the closing of Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream. After 40 amazing years of serving Pittsburgh our ice cream, Andy has decided to retire. We would like to thank our friends, families, past and present employees and most of all our loyal, loving customers. You are what made 40 years possible. We will cherish all the wonderful memories and friendships that have been made over the years.”
The shop is closed on Mondays and messages left for Andy were not immediately returned. The last day will be April 28, the same day as the University of Pittsburgh’s graduation.
Pitt juniors Bri Zysk of Philadelphia and Eva Calabrese of Vermont were studying for final exams in the ballroom inside the William Pitt Union on Monday.
“Everyone knows Dave & Andy’s,” said Calabrese.
“There is no other ice cream place like Dave & Andy’s on campus.”
The shop, tucked along Atwood Street off of Forbes Avenue, is known for more than 200 flavors such as ginger snap, brown butter, black raspberry chocolate chunk, Kit Kat fudge, Nutella and cannoli. Calabrese said caramel is her favorite. Zysk said anything with peanut butter is her choice.
Both said they plan to go at least one more time. They said they hope Andy enjoys his retirement but it would be great to see someone else take over the business.
“What is nice about Dave & Andy’s is it is open year-round the students said.
“If you are having a bad day in January, ice cream would make that better,” Calabrese said.
“Or if there is a 60 degree day in December, you want ice cream and Dave & Andy’s would be open.”
It seems like a lot of small businesses are closing, Zysk said. She’s right. The Original Hot Dog Shop closed in 2020 and Fuel and Fuddle gastropub in 2023 and the aforementioned Mad Mex — three well-known Oakland establishments.
“I wonder what it will look like when we come back 20 years from now,” Zysk said.
“I would not be shocked if the line is really long all week. It is finals week and graduation so there will be a lot of people on campus.”
