Greeted with vibrant colors and white chocolate mermaid tails, there’s no question Vancouver waterfront’s new milkshake bar, The Yard, will draw in tourists with their over-the-top indulgent treats. As the shop has certainly gained popularity over the past month since its grand opening, you might be asking yourself one question, is it worth the hype?
Created by Logan and Chelsea Green, The Yard officially came into fruition in 2019 when the company appeared on ABC’s hit TV series “Shark Tank” and soon after launching 19 locations across the country. Being the only shop in the Pacific Northwest, The Yard launched on Aug. 21 in the heartland of downtown Vancouver on 656 Waterfront Way.
(Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)
With 24 ice cream flavors, 18 specialty shakes and 60 topping options, the shop allows room for versatility, but offers limited options for gluten-free and vegan customers. While The Yard’s specialty shakes are its best-sellers, the milkshake shop also serves sundaes, ice cream pints, bowls and edible cookie dough.
If you’re searching for a rich brownie batter shake, one may consider trying the Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss shake. Coated in peanut butter drizzle, whipped cream and a whole brownie placed on top, the shake doesn’t fail to deliver an overloaded chocolate sensation. Another option is the classic Neapolitan Sundae. This shake includes a trio of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream rolled in rainbow sprinkles, garnished with a waffle, whipped cream and a cherry on top.
Although the shop encapsulates everyone’s childhood dream, these novelty toppings come with a price, and leads to a brutal awakening. Each shake costs $18.63 a pint with the souvenir jar included. In my opinion, because The Yard oversaturates some of their milkshakes with underwhelming ingredients, such as bland cupcakes or stale Cookie Crisp cereal, what the customer is really paying for is the experience rather than top-notch ice cream.
Overall, The Yard achieves an eccentric ambiance for visitors and Vancouver residents alike. However, if you’re wanting to splurge on desserts outside the realm of a typical ice cream parlor, make sure to leave all your high milkshake expectations at the door.
Emily is a senior studying integrated strategic communication at WSU Vancouver.