The announcement that Zsa’s Ice Cream would close at the end of 2025 broke a lot of hearts. Now, Danielle Jowdy, owner of the beloved Mt. Airy shop, provided an update on social media that sparked hope among customers: She is looking for a buyer.

Last year, Jowdy revealed her decision to shutter the shop in December 2025. Despite Zsa’s success, she believed expanding the business would involve a “financial, mental, and emotional toll beyond my boundaries.” Rather than scaling the business up, she decided to give the community her all for one more year.

With a loyal fan base eager to get as many scoops as possible, the past eight months have been busy.

“People have been coming to support us and inquire about what’s going on and what our next plans are,” Jowdy told the Local. “So, we’ve definitely had a busier than usual summer.”

According to Jowdy, as December approaches, the inquiries have become more frequent. She instructed her employees to tell customers Zsa’s will close unless the business finds a buyer, but she did not officially inform the community until posting on Instagram and Facebook on Aug. 13.

“What many of you have not formally heard from me directly, is that my goal is to find a buyer for Zsa’s before the end of the year — the right individual(s) or organization who loves ice cream, this neighborhood, and small business as much as I do, and who has the desire, strong commitment, and unwavering work ethic to take Zsa’s to the next level,” the post read.

For Jowdy, the perfect buyer for Zsa’s would not only have the capital and experience to sustain and scale up the business, but also the right mindset to oversee the company’s manufacturing and retail arms.

“For somebody who buys this, I want them to understand that, yes, there is this great fun part, and we love being that anchor in the neighborhood,” Jowdy said. “But it is a very serious commitment.”

Jowdy said she hopes a future purchaser would recognize the value of the Zsa’s brand in Mt. Airy, but also explore other avenues for expansion. She also mentioned her desire to see Zsa’s become an employee-owned business.

“Unlike other food service establishments, [Zsa’s] does not have a high turnover rate at all,” Jowdy explained. “Whoever buys this, it’s going to be successful by continuing that model of having longtime employees and being able to provide them with increased opportunity and responsibility. And that’s where possibly offering them some degree of ownership in the company would make me really happy.”

Jowdy said she recognizes that a creative option combining talents, experience, and funding could work, and she encourages anyone to reach out to her.

“If there’s somebody who feels like they have the food background, but they lack the capital, I’m open to pulling parties together to make this work,” Jowdy said.

However, despite this update, Jowdy wants to make it clear that Zsa’s will still close in December if she is unable to find a buyer.

For information, email Danielle@zsasicecream.com.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.