One of Houston’s most creative ice cream shops is on the move. Craft Creamery is closing its Montrose location and heading to the Heights.

Effective immediately, Craft Creamery is now operating at Sweet Bribery, the retro-styled ice cream and sweet shop that opened in 2018. Now known as Sweet Bribery by Craft Creamery, the shop serves Craft Creamery’s signature flavors paired with Sweet Bribery’s baked goods, classic ice cream flavors, and its full selection of wine and beer.

"We have dreamed of being on a busy corner in the Heights since we started the business and knew that this was the perfect opportunity to make it come true," Craft Creamery chef and founder Steve Marques said in a statement. "We have always been a fan of Sweet Bribery and look forward to a great partnership."

The move means that Craft Creamery's original location in Montrose (1338 Westheimer Rd.) will close on Sunday, September 10.

Marques opened Craft Creamery in late 2020 after working at a number of Houston restaurants including The Burger Guys and Eunice. Using his classic French training, he’s developed a range of both traditional and more unusual flavors such as Smokey BBQ Brisket, Cacio e Pepe, Jalapeno Cornbread, and Tomato Tarragon. That creativity has also fueled a thriving wholesale business that supplies restaurants such as Potente, Local Foods, and Roost.

Chef Steve Marques with his wife and co-founder Kim Kaase.Photo by Addison Hall

At his new location, Marques will serve both Craft Creamery’s flavors as well as Sweet Bribery’s favorites such as Tahitian Vanilla, Salted Chocolate, Cookies N’ Cream, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch along with its cookies, brownies, and other sweet treats. In addition, he’ll add a selection of sorbets that can be paired with Sweet Bribery's champagne selections.

In an interview on CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast, Marques explained the texture he’s trying to achieve with Craft Creamery's flavors.

"Like a great piece of chocolate, you never have to chew it. The Swiss say all you should have to do is put it on your tongue, because the chocolate does the rest of the work," Marques said. "It allows it to fill your palate the appropriate way. For me, the texture has to be silky. Even in small amounts, it fills your palate, because it's not icy . . . our stuff because of the fat content just coats."

While her time making ice cream has come to an end, Sweet Bribery’s founding chef Sharon Leonard has started a cookie business. Follow her on Instagram at sharebearbakes for ordering information.

This summer has been a busy time for new ice cream shops in the Heights. Montrose favorite Milk & Sugar opened its second location there in July, and Austin favorite Amy's Ice Creams recently opened in the former Fat Cat Creamery space on 19th St. They join a number of existing options such as Cloud 10 Creamery, Honeychild's Sweet Creams, and Dolce Neve.