Shuga x Ice lost its physical location with only 48 hours’ notice after the sudden closure of our food hall. We’re rebuilding bigger: a nationwide pop-up tour, DMV production + pickup, nationwide shipping and the search for our forever home.

Your support helps us secure kitchen space, cover equipment leases, restock ingredients, prepare for nationwide shipping, and relaunch for the new year.

Every amount helps us keep this vision alive.

But here's the full story:

A month ago, I walked into my shop to start another normal day.

By that night, I learned I had 48 hours to close forever.

No warning. No conversation. Just a sudden announcement that left 10 small businesses, including mine, without a home. It felt like losing a piece of myself.

But what happened next changed everything.

I shared the news on Instagram, not expecting much. Within hours, the post reached over 40,000 people. By 6pm on our last night, we were completely sold out. My inbox filled with opportunities, collaborations, and people asking how they could help and donate. In that moment, I realized: The shop closed, but the vision didn’t. God simply widened the assignment.

Why Shuga x Ice Matters

Shuga x Ice was never just about dessert.

It is, and has always been, a cultural experience:

• a celebration of African flavors

• a gathering place for joy and connection

• a love letter to the diaspora

• a community hub in the DMV

Losing our physical space didn’t end our mission. It expanded it.

Now we’re rebuilding Shuga x Ice into something bigger, bolder, and rooted even deeper in purpose.

What We’re Building Next

1. A Nationwide Pop-Up Tour (2026):

New York and Atlanta are confirmed, with more cities on the way. These aren’t simple pop-ups; they’re immersive, curated Shuga x Ice experiences.

2. Local Pop-Ups, Events, Pickup/Delivery & Shipping:

We’re securing commercial kitchen access so our community can continue to order pints, specials, and book us for catering/events and pop-ups while we search for our next home.

3. Nationwide Shipping:

We planned to launch nationwide shipping this Thanksgiving - one of our biggest dreams yet, but the closure didn’t cancel that vision - it simply delayed it. With your help, we can rebuild our shipping system and bring Shuga x Ice to doorsteps across the country the way we intended. This is still happening.

4. Our Forever Home:

We’re working toward a permanent space built with stability, growth, and longevity in mind. A space worthy of this vision.

Why This Means Everything

I’m currently rebuilding from the ground up and navigating this next chapter with nothing but faith, drive, and community behind me.

I’m a solo founder and even after feeling like we lost everything overnight… I still believe this vision will go further than it ever has.

Shuga x Ice didn’t end. It’s evolving.

How Your Support Will Be Used

Your contribution doesn’t just help us rebuild - it helps us step into our next chapter with strength, creativity, and possibility.

Your support means: We keep our dream alive. We continue serving the DMV. We take African-inspired ice cream across the country. We rebuild a business that builds community. We continue to prove that this is still more than ice cream.

How You Can Help

• Donate: truly, even $5 moves the vision forward

• Share this fundraiser with friends, family, and coworkers

• Tag people who do or will believe in this vision

• Follow the journey @shugaxice

Thank You for Believing in This Vision

Thank you for supporting this rebuild.

Thank you for being part of the story.

Thank you for helping us take Shuga x Ice into its next chapter.

With love & hope,

Ndidiamaka “Didi” Agu

Founder, Shuga x Ice