Project: Molly Moon’s Ice Cream Shop
Architecture: Graham Baba Architects
Team: Jim Graham, Noreen Shinohara, Allison Acosta
Contractor: Wilcox Construction
Location: Seattle, Washington, United States
Area: 300 ft2
Year: 2025
Photo Credits: Alessandra Brescia
Molly Moon’s Ice Cream Shop by Graham Baba Architects brings a beloved local brand into one of Seattle’s most historic waterfront structures. Located within the restored Washington Street Boat Landing, the project transforms less than 300 square feet into a lively destination for visitors and locals alike. Despite its compact size, the shop is designed to handle the heavy flow of customers during Seattle’s busy summer season.
Honoring a Historic Setting
The project forms part of Seattle’s broader waterfront transformation, which seeks to reconnect the city to its shoreline with new parks, pedestrian zones, and improved public access. Within this context, Molly Moon’s Ice Cream Shop carefully integrates the brand’s recognizable identity while respecting the architecture of the historic boat landing. Original ticket windows have been reimagined as serving counters, offering a tangible link between past and present.
Thoughtful Design Beyond the Storefront
Because of the site’s scale and seasonal demands, the architects designed solutions that extend outside the primary building. Two walk-in coolers, tucked discreetly beneath the waterfront pergola, provide essential storage for ice cream and supplies. These elements blend into the site’s rhythm, enhancing the sense of enclosure while framing open views of the water. In the off-season, the coolers double as storage and distribution hubs for other Molly Moon’s locations.
A Balance Between Preservation and Modern Needs
Navigating the challenges of adapting a historic structure, Graham Baba Architects created a space that balances preservation with the operational realities of a small, modern business. The result is both a neighborhood anchor and a welcoming destination along Seattle’s reimagined shoreline. Molly Moon’s Ice Cream Shop not only adds a new layer of vibrancy to the waterfront but also reinforces the city’s ongoing effort to integrate history, community, and contemporary urban life.
