Alas, the summer treat is there no more. According to local TV news -and take this with a sack of salt- the owners had divorced a few years ago, after a long standing collaboration. Seems the woman waited until the guy remarried to cash in her chips. Since he was supposed to pay through the nose, he played a Houdini. Hell hath no fury…
[quote]Ice shop’s death may hit Yong Kang property prices
Retail property prices along Taipei’s Yong Kang Street, a food strip recommended by the New York Times in 2008, may fall after Ice Monster (冰館), a stall known for its mango shaved ice desert, closed, said Sinyi Realty Co (信義房屋), the nation’s biggest real-estate brokerage.
[/quote]
Come on … how can a whole street’s real estate depend on one ‘famous’ shaved ice bar closing down?
Just start another one … how difficult can that be … 
Well if the ice place’s reputation brings people in, they might eat at surrounding restaurants first. yeah I can believe that.
What’s the name and address of this belgian pie place in sanxia btw? we’re thinking of going there.
Why would Ice Monster close down? It was always swarming with customers.
Putting mango on shaved ice. A piece of piss. Recreating brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. Damn tricky.
I think it was something to do with divorce and the resulting property settlements. Although I might be thinking of somewhere else.
So was there actually anything that made their mango ice different from/better than everyone else’s mango ice?
or was it just the fame of the place?
Media, news overkill … made it famous :ohreally: :loco:
It’s so many times discussed already … it doesn’t matter if it’s good … just show your face, the stuff you brew/make and that of an FT (Famous Taiwanese) on the news and there you go … instant wealth …
[quote=“smithsgj”]Well if the ice place’s reputation brings people in, they might eat at surrounding restaurants first. yeah I can believe that.
What’s the name and address of this belgian pie place in Sanxia btw? we’re thinking of going there.[/quote]
It’s somewhere on a map on the Patio28 thread … and BTW, I’m grumpy, food is terrible, and service bad (but the beer is good) … and I’ve not been on TV yet with an FT … so, don’t come look for people lining up … or a whole street that’s just crowded with people …
But hey, you’re welcome anytime … ask some other Forumosans … if I have the time I even show up and talk to you … and if you’re lucky I’ll be shaven … :eh: 
FYI, we slimmed down our menu … because as you already could read on our thread we’re kind of going to change in a way …
The ex took the equipment as collateral… 3 houses were not enough.
There’s a little place next to it that I like and which does a very nice fresh-strawberry milk ice for NT80, good deal. It’s in the cluster of stalls right behind the closed ice monster, behind the stairs up to what i think is a sushi express restaurant.
And if you like taro, which can be an acquired taste for some, there’s a good taro ice shop in that cluster. It may be the same one as your place, but I always get the taro ice, which is a lot cheaper than anything Ice Monster used to sell.
One time, many years ago, we lined up at a shaved ice place on Yongkang Street; I think it was this place. Anyway, it was pretty mediocre, some mango dumped on ice with a bunch of overly sweet evaporated or condensed milk from a can dumped on it. Certainly nothing to line up for, and nothing to return for. If that’s the same place that has closed, it’s no great loss. It’s not even a tiny loss.
I think they were the first ones to do the mango ice just like that.
I’d had some before I first went to Ice Monster, and it was different.
Also, I read in an early interview, that he had a great supply of REALLY FRESH good mangos. That would have helped.
I went to Ice Monster in early 1999, when they’d just opened. No queues or anything, just good ice. A year later there were queues. A couple of years later they were ridiculous and then quality went down, and prices more than doubled. Still, I’ll miss them.
I’ve had shaved ice once in my life … won’t miss it in any form … it’s 90% water … the rest is sugar and more crap … ok, sometimes a slice of mango … but that’s it …
You’re missing out on one of life’s simple pleasures! I stay away from the crap… just fruit, milk, sugar and ice thanks, can’t beat it! You may have got one where they throw in everything but the kitchen sink… many like it but it’s not my cup of… ice 
shaved ice is best had on a stick…and with syrupy, sweet chemically substances…suburban childhood, those were the days.
[quote=“Bu Lai En”]I think they were the first ones to do the mango ice just like that.
I’d had some before I first went to Ice Monster, and it was different.
Also, I read in an early interview, that he had a great supply of REALLY FRESH good mangos. That would have helped.
I went to Ice Monster in early 1999, when they’d just opened. No queues or anything, just good ice. A year later there were queues. A couple of years later they were ridiculous and then quality went down, and prices more than doubled. Still, I’ll miss them.[/quote]
If you need your Mango Ice fix try either Longdu bingguo 龍都冰果 in Wanhua (No. 168 Guangzhou St.) or Taiyi Niunai Dawang (臺一牛奶大王) across from NTU on Xinsheng S. Rd. Section 3 No. 82. Both have mango ice just as good as Ice Monster and half the price. Longdu has been in business for 90 years and is a nice stop off after Longshan Temple.
[quote=“Feiren”][quote=“Bu Lai En”]I think they were the first ones to do the mango ice just like that.
I’d had some before I first went to Ice Monster, and it was different.
Also, I read in an early interview, that he had a great supply of REALLY FRESH good mangos. That would have helped.
I went to Ice Monster in early 1999, when they’d just opened. No queues or anything, just good ice. A year later there were queues. A couple of years later they were ridiculous and then quality went down, and prices more than doubled. Still, I’ll miss them.[/quote]
If you need your Mango Ice fix try either Longdu bingguo 龍都冰果 in Wanhua (No. 168 Guangzhou St.) or Taiyi Niunai Dawang (臺一牛奶大王) across from NTU on Xinsheng S. Rd. Section 3 No. 82. Both have mango ice just as good as Ice Monster and half the price. Longdu has been in business for 90 years and is a nice stop off after Longshan Temple.[/quote]
Thanks Feiren. I’ve been to Taiyi a long time ago. They do lots of stuff. i remember their banana smoothies being particularly good. I think the thing about Ice Monster is that their focus almost entirely on mango ice, and (at first anyway) their sourcing of really good fresh mangos did give them a product better than anyone else. I never liked mangos until Ice Monster. They just never tasted good. Nowadays, I’m sure there are plenty of others who copied and do just as well.
Reopening Saturday under the name of “Yungkang 15.”
The boss of Ice Monster is still involved as an unpaid consultant, but according to the TV reports, there will be new items on the menu and prices will be higher.
Some TV stations also mentioned the involvement of ‘a Canadian team,’ but I don’t know if that’s true and who they are.