Molly Moon Is Still Sweet on Redmond
August 25, 2025
By Madeline Virginia
The Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream shop in Redmond sits in a historic building next to Downtown Park. On busy days, the line can stretch for a block down Cleveland Street.
Molly Moon isn’t a fictional character, despite her unique name. She’s a Seattle local who started the line of ice cream shops 17 years ago. The Downtown Redmond location was the seventh of now eleven locations across the greater Seattle area, and was the first on the Eastside.
“Molly Moon’s has been here in Redmond for nine years… We will be here forever,” Molly Moon Neitzel told Redmond Moments on a rainy Summer day at the Cleveland Street location.
Molly Moon Neitzel at the Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream location on Cleveland Street in Redmond, Washington.
“Redmond was our top sales store for a long time. Downtown Redmond is a great place to be, and it’s continued to grow,” Neitzel said.
The current top spot is taken by one of the newest locations, Seattle’s Waterfront Park. Molly Moon’s secured the space by beating out 47 other bids to occupy the historic boat landing.
“We are employing pastry chefs with culinary degrees, making things from scratch”
Despite growing competition, Neitzel hopes a promise to ‘be homemade’ helps her shops stand out. Nine of the Molly Moon’s locations, including Redmond, have full kitchens where their ice cream is made. “We are employing pastry chefs with culinary degrees, making things from scratch. 90% of ingredients are from Washington or the PNW,” Neitzel explained.
Freshly made waffle cones.
She ensures there is neighborhood investment baked into the financial structure of each store. “Our commitment is giving 1% of sales or 10% of profits, whichever is greater, to a local food bank. So, here in Redmond it’s Hopelink.”
At Molly Moon’s, there is also an emphasis on employee benefits, like forgoing tips to focus on higher wages. Neitzel said, “Yes, let’s make a lot of money, and let’s spend it in a way that aligns with our progressive values… We spend 51% of our total sales on employees.”
Neitzel with Redmond "‘Moon Crew” members, Min on the left, and Ronan on the right.
A sign notifying customers that the shop is tip free.
Neitzel also hopes that the Redmond shop continues to be a place where community members of all ages can come together.
“Life gets so polarized and stratified when you’re a young working professional, and what we know about Seattle and Redmond and Bellevue is that there are a lot of young working professionals… We are supposed to live in a multi-generational community, and it’s what creates richness in the fabric of life. It’s what helps you understand your place in the world, and in society.”
