Interesting how often we come across mentions of Bailey’s ice cream, a one-time Wellesley hotspot before we came to town. A reader recently wrote that he was surprised that the recently shuttered Brigham’s outlasted Bailey’s. Dorset Cafe’s Sally Khudairi fondly remembered Bailey’s chocolate chip ice cream in this Boston Globe column. And then earlier this week I came across this mention of it in Bill Simmons “The Book of Basketball”:
“[My dad] hoped for another game like the famous Bird-Dominique duel, when Larry had come through enough times that you could literally feel it coming before it happened. After that masterpiece of a sporting event — really, it was a life experience — we were too wired to head right home, so we found an ice cream shop called Bailey’s in Wellesley and ordered a couple of hot fudge sundaes. I don’t think we said anything for twenty solid minutes…”
Bailey’s was awesome and it’s closing was the beginning of the end for Wellesley’s unique businesses being replaced by hum drum national chains.
Bailey’s was indeed one of the better establishments Wellesley has even seen. I think all the kids who played Wellesley town sports in the 80s ended up at Bailey’s after a well fought out victory.
Bailey’s had a wonderful marble soda dispenser (displayed only, not in use) from the turn of the century with buttons for “sasparilla” soda. I wonder where that ended up…?
https://www.ourstate.com/from-fountain-to-fore/
I went to look over Wellesley College back in 1974 and we stopped at Bailey’s several times. Their hot fudge sundae with peppermint stick ice cream was pure heaven. They also made their own candies and I remember those wonderful caramels which would take 9-11 minutes to consume!! I’ve never found any others a fraction as delicious as those were.
Lydia Shire remembers Bailey’s butterscotch sauce in particular as it was really fabulous.
Bailey’s
I remember someone riding their moped inside the store at closing.
True story. Miss that place a lot.
I can’t talk of Bailey’s without mentioning the lime or the raspberry rickey. That was a treat. Every now and then on The Simpsons, Mr. Burns will reference a rickey.
No one who ever had a hot fudge sundae at Bailey’s will ever forget it. Tons of the very best hot fudge dripping down over the ice cream….all over the lower plate. It took forever to eat.
I remember the old marble soda dispenser along with the old marble ice cream parlor tables and wrought iron ice cream parlor chairs. Going there was like entering a time machine. There hasn’t been anything like it since.
My brother , Michael worked here and met his wife Paula miller. He would come home w hot fudge on his sleeve and a pocket full of coins. Always a special trip !!!! And yes ,, the BEST butterscotch sauce ever!!!
i remember going to baileys in downtown boston as a kid in the 80s and they had the best hot fudge and marshmellow sundaes i have ever tasted. they slowly started to dissapear in town and the last one i remember was in belmont, i never found out what ever happened to baileys but they were the best ever
I recall Bailey’s from way back when in the early eighties when my then girlfriend introduced me to this super place in Wellesley for hot fudge sundaes. I am happy that she knew about this classy ice cream stand. I don’t know why Wellesley doesn’t continue this tradition. It seems like a lifetime ago.
I don’t remember how my mother got this recipe, but here it is:
BAILEY’S FUDGE SAUCE
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 squares of chocolate (I use Bakers Semi Sweet)
1 small can evaporated milk
1 stick of butter (I use salted)
1/2 tspn. vanilla
Melt butter and chocolate in a heavy pan. Add evaporated milk, then stir in sugar. Let boil for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly so it won’t burn. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Keeps in the refrigerator about a week, but I’ve never had it hang around that long.
My grandfather was a candyorker at the Tremont shop in the 60s. Does anyone have a recipe for the coconut cakes?
I would love to have that recipe! I used buy them for my Grandmother. One of her all time favorites! Her Aunt used to buy them in Boston.
Baileys butterscotch sundaes are eternally etched in my sensory mind…….the way the butterscotch ran down the side of the dish, carrying with it little portions of whipped cream, the way it pooled on the plate, the way it slightly hardened after it began to cool, the desire to eat every bit, even to the point of being without manners. It was THAT GOOD,
Bailey s hot fudge was the best! Their sundaes and lime rickeys are just memorable!