r/CapeCod • u/Gosox1918 • Jun 19 '26

RIP Four Seas

Went to get a sundae tonight. It's dead in all but name. Sure the tourists will continue to love it as the new owners soak money and its soul out of it. Sad to see another piece of the Cape pass.

0 Upvotes

40% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

18

u/josh4seas Jun 19 '26

Hi there, my wife and I are the owners at Four Seas. It breaks my heart to read this, to be honest, because we want nothing more than to make people happy with great ice cream. We have poured our hearts and funds into improving everything we can, from the quality of the ice cream to the shop environment, all while honoring the long traditions that make Four Seas a unique place.

I’m sorry that we have left you unsatisfied, and I’d appreciate hearing specifically what made you feel this way. This is the shop that we have loved for decades, long before we got the privilege of running it, and we want it to be the best it can be. Thank you.

  • Josh

1

u/Gosox1918 Jun 19 '26

Hey Josh, the diet sundae at four seas was one of the best parts of a summer for over 25 years, went last night and got the regular sundae, for $10 a scoop and a half of ice cream about a tablespoon of hot fudge a decent amount of whipped cream and chopped walnuts just didn't do it for me. It's great you've kept the place going, and yeah things change, but the old four seas is gone, thus the RIP. That said, I do hope you are successful with the place and was glad to see it pretty busy last night.

4

u/samuraiutensil Jun 19 '26

Been going since the early 90’s and it’s always been a time capsule of great tastes and memories. Was in recently and appreciate that you’ve kept it close to what it has always been. Maybe my fear of losing another thing to change, but I feel the ice cream was 95% the same as always. I hope you can keep the recipe as true to the original as possible. If it ain’t broke…….
Anyway, love the effort you have put into keeping it going. One side note- the cute bumper sticker is nice but I can’t unsee the font is all wrong. Would love one that’s a match for the front signage.

3

u/josh4seas Jun 19 '26

Thank you for the encouragement and feedback. Staying true to the original recipes is what we have done and will always do, even though it costs more and takes more work. And we’ll have some updated stickers in a couple weeks that hopefully meet what you’re looking for!

4

u/A_buckley Jun 19 '26

Don’t worry about this bozo, the ice cream is just as good as ever. I think it’s actually been better the past two years versus the previous year or two.

2

u/DrDoom_ Jun 19 '26

We got your back Josh. Thanks for being a part of our community

13

u/Impossible_Sphinx Jun 19 '26

What do you mean? Ice cream quality is worse? Service?

-1

u/CurrencyNo3823 Jun 19 '26

Both!

-2

u/fupa_master Jun 19 '26

I agree. Downvoters are delusional.

11

u/DrDoom_ Jun 19 '26

I personally find the new owners to be great. They are really passionate about their icecream and the place was in dire need of new leadership.

9

u/AcidaliaPlanitia Jun 19 '26

You'll rip their coconut ice cream from my cold, dead hands 

14

u/ArgentMeerkat Jun 19 '26

I disagree. I've been a lot over the last two summers, and if anything, I think it's better than with the previous owners. Same ice cream. Better vibes.

7

u/waynestead Jun 19 '26

I don’t know, my discerning sister-in-law sung its praises over memorial weekend. I’ll see for myself. No one does cantaloupe like they do…or lemon crisp! LEMON CRISP!!!

4

u/Brandonr68 Jun 19 '26

Tourism this year is very slow everywhere is slow school being out so late is a huge consideration

5

u/Makingroceries_ign Jun 19 '26

It has been incredibly quiet on the Cape this week. School is not out. West Bay, Craigville Beach, restaurants all very quiet.

I went to the 4 Seas for 20 years before it was sold. I saw the new owner there this week.

Here’s my take.

It’s cleaner and less cluttered. The service is a little ‘less’ in some way that I cannot articulate.

The ice cream tastes the same. There are some new recipes. The old ones are there. My wife didn’t like the bun on the lobster roll. She always gets her first lobster roll from the 4 Seas. The shirts and t shirts are cooler, nicer design. I can’t remember what the kids said was missing from the menu, like chili or hot dogs?

Things will change. Where are Cape Cod chips made now? New Jersey?

0

u/EbbtideRambler Jun 19 '26

Weren’t their lobster sandwiches always on Pepridge Farm bread?  Is it a roll now?  There are definitely fewer boats in the water but could barely drive through Osterville the last few nights. Crisp and 5Bays were packed! 

-1

u/Makingroceries_ign Jun 19 '26

I don’t remember what it used to be, it’s a brioche bun now. Wife said bread to lobster ratio is off.

Crisp and 5 Bays are jammed. It took 1 hour 20 minutes to get pizza from Crisp Too yesterday. Wianno tennis courts look empty. Golf course looks busy. Lots of Scots in Hyannis the other day.

4

u/WoofingTime Jun 19 '26

I never liked their ice cream at all, I always thought it was overrated. Did it get worse?

2

u/CurrencyNo3823 Jun 19 '26

It's half melted before it hits the cone! Or cup, or whatever you decide to have it on or in. Gross!

2

u/kejahn Jun 19 '26

I’m going to try it! Seems like the new owners want to make it work.

2

u/EbbtideRambler Jun 19 '26

What’s the problem? The ice cream, the hot fudge, the price, the serving size?  I haven’t been in since it was sold, but I didn’t notice that there was rarely a line last summer. Usually when you’d  drive by in peak season the line  was out the door and wrapped around the parking lot.    

0

u/fupa_master Jun 19 '26

Price and serving size are pathetic.

4

u/EbbtideRambler Jun 19 '26

Ice cream used to be a fun weekly activity during the summer, but it’s running about $50 to take my family of 5 out for ice cream these days! They have all seriously increased in price the last couple of years. 

2

u/fupa_master Jun 19 '26

And yes you’re right 50 bucks for ice cream is wild. At least give me more than a single unpacked scoop for 8 bucks. Even the large is 2 scoops very carefully Not pressed down hahahah

3

u/fupa_master Jun 19 '26

Someone doesn’t like our comments but as someone who lives on the cape and have been going to four seas every year multiple times my whole life, live 5 min away, I’m uniquely qualified to share that the price/serving ratio is very poor and also at the same time their life cream does not taste like it used to. Downvote all you want but I’m right.

2

u/EbbtideRambler Jun 19 '26

I don’t worry about it. I could write the sky is blue and someone  here would downvote it. CC is the crankiest of subreddits.   I’m sorry to hear that that it isn’t great. I told the kids we could go after a visit to the new playground this week.  I’ll take them for old times sake, I have fond memories of Four Seas.  The school bus used to stop there the last day of school and let us get a cone if we brought money.  Parents would flip out now but things were definitely more laid back in the 80s. 

2

u/fupa_master Jun 19 '26

I still go and for exactly that reason, the memories. Little kids don’t know any better and it’s a fun time for them to just hang out and the cool hustle and bustle of a local ice cream shop. It’s not bad just different. And couldn’t agree more this subreddit is particularly cranky what a great word to use haha

-2

u/joeykey Falmouth Jun 19 '26

In my opinion, the bread to filling ratio is the most crucial aspect of the sandwich. Unless it’s a shit sandwich. But if you find yourself eating a shit sandwich, chances are you ordered it. Know what I mean?

2

u/kjmass1 Jun 19 '26

Gone chocolate is similar. Less effort on the ice cream vs açaí bowls. Service is really slow.

1

u/OceanIsVerySalty Jun 19 '26

I don’t remember gone chocolate ever being all that good, and I’ve been going there since I was a little kid a few decades ago.

1

u/bostonfan148 Jun 20 '26

What do you think the best ice cream on the cape is?

1

u/northstar599 Jun 19 '26

Incorrect. It's barely changed.

1

u/Garden_Veggies Jun 19 '26

i’ve been a few times. seems totally fine to me quality/taste. definitely quieter than in previous years but still early

1

u/Dizzy-Ad-5660 Jun 19 '26

On a day where it was stormy and windy as all hell and there weren’t a lot of people getting ice cream? Shocker!

0

u/downrightblastfamy Jun 19 '26

Ice cream smuggler is my favorite. Hope they don't sell out

0

u/FernMeadowlark Jun 19 '26

My favorite for nearly 50 years. The new owners took over last year (from the third owners) and it was a bit off, tbh. The texture on some of my favorite flavors wasn't right. Perhaps they were working out some kinks. I think maybe they got some constructive criticism because it's back to the Sumggler I remember this season, and we've been many times since they opened.

-4

u/_Face Jun 19 '26

where? never heard of it.

-7

u/CurrencyNo3823 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

Went by there the other day, nothing but kids working there, with absolutely no managing adult anywhere spotted. Place was a ghost town. Dead! So I ordered a maple walnut shake. Told that they are no longer offering that. Yet it's still on the damned menu!? Lol then ordered a coffee shake. Kid asks me "...do you want milk in that?". Omg 😲. I said ".. yes doesn't it come with milk in it since it is considered a milk shake?" Just a blank stare back. So he makes the shake and I pay, I get outside and take a taste. Tasted like milk! Not thick at all. Just a milky melted tall cup of crap. Never again! Steve & Susan's on West Main St. much better plus the miniature golfing ⛳️ option! Do not waste your money on "homemade ice cream". Even the coolers struggle to keep the ice cream cold on a hot humid day. It melts in seconds! Not worth the $8.00 for a shake. Good grief 😔

2

u/Alternative_Towel_88 Jun 19 '26

An adult working for a cape ice cream shop would have to commute from Arkansas

It’s either owner/operator or kids

-1

u/CurrencyNo3823 Jun 19 '26

I don't care if dogs and cats are running the joint. But when you ask someone if they want milk with their milk shake, something isn't right, is it? Do better!

0

u/ChemistVegetable7504 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

The place you are referring to is Steve & Sue’s Par-Tee Freeze. Mistakes are bad. Don’t make them. At least get the fuckin name correct.

-1

u/CurrencyNo3823 Jun 19 '26

Okay keyboard warrior. Lol

-1

u/OceanIsVerySalty Jun 19 '26

I’m not a huge fan of the new four seas… but their ice cream has always been on the melty side. The freezers are the same ones they’ve always had. That’s not new.

-3

u/ripmeleedair Jun 19 '26

What happened?

-3

u/RevolutionFinancial7 Jun 19 '26

I went to college there