(Sept. 29, 2016) Popular Chincoteague, Virginia ice cream shop Island Creamery is coming to downtown Berlin and will take up residence in the former Cupcakes in Bloom building on Main Street.
The shop is known for its use of local and natural ingredients, including a “premium butterfat mix from Lancaster County cows,” and offers flavors like Bourbon Caramel Crunch and Wallops Rocket Fuel, which is “chocolate ice cream with cinnamon and a chili pepper boost.”
Owner Kelly Conklin said the shop has been operating in Chincoteague for 42 seasons and that he “really had no master plan to expand.” But, when an opportunity arose in Berlin, he jumped at the chance.
“I have children who want to be involved and we just knew we were going to need to grow at some point if that was going to happen,” he said. “My wife and my daughter and I have been coming to Berlin every December for the Christmas season, because it’s so quaint and neat, and we always enjoyed ourselves.”
Conklin said his family enjoyed antiquing in the town, as well as grabbing treats from Cupcakes in Bloom. He is also a big fan of the peach dumplings – the official dessert of Berlin – at Baked Dessert Café.
“We just always enjoyed that and thought if we ever could do something else that would be a nice place,” he said. “We like small towns and quaint places, and it was just serendipity that somebody pointed out a Facebook post that Cupcakes in Bloom [was available].”
After contacting the former owner and the landlord of the building, on 120 North Main Street, Conklin said, “things just progressed and we decided to do it.”
He did not have a firm date to open, saying, “we’d rather do it sooner than later, but I want to do it right.” Conklin expects to have a hearing with the historic district commission in November.
“It may be in December, or it may be early next year. I’d just rather do it right,” he said, adding that the shop itself would probably not require extensive renovations, but that he would like to clean up the alleyway, which currently “looks a little rough.”
Because of space limitations in the narrow building, the new location will not offer indoor seating like its Chincoteague counterpart, although Conklin promised a full compliment of flavors would be offered.
“Our current plan is just to have a dipping can that’s right down the middle, perpendicular to Main Street, so people who walk in can see the flavors, see the signage and pay toward the back of the building and exit the side door into the alleyway,” he said.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells posted the news on Facebook last Friday.
During a council meeting on Monday night, she said that post had reached almost 100,000 people, including 130 comments and more than 1,100 “likes.” She noted the building was had been home to a Dairy Queen, many years ago.
Last year, Trip Advisor named the Island Creamery one of the 10 “Top Ice Cream Shops in the U.S.” Food & Wine and Buzzfeed also listed the shop on “best of” lists this year.
The shop is known for its use of local and natural ingredients, including a “premium butterfat mix from Lancaster County cows,” and offers flavors like Bourbon Caramel Crunch and Wallops Rocket Fuel, which is “chocolate ice cream with cinnamon and a chili pepper boost.”
Owner Kelly Conklin said the shop has been operating in Chincoteague for 42 seasons and that he “really had no master plan to expand.” But, when an opportunity arose in Berlin, he jumped at the chance.
“I have children who want to be involved and we just knew we were going to need to grow at some point if that was going to happen,” he said. “My wife and my daughter and I have been coming to Berlin every December for the Christmas season, because it’s so quaint and neat, and we always enjoyed ourselves.”
Conklin said his family enjoyed antiquing in the town, as well as grabbing treats from Cupcakes in Bloom. He is also a big fan of the peach dumplings – the official dessert of Berlin – at Baked Dessert Café.
“We just always enjoyed that and thought if we ever could do something else that would be a nice place,” he said. “We like small towns and quaint places, and it was just serendipity that somebody pointed out a Facebook post that Cupcakes in Bloom [was available].”
After contacting the former owner and the landlord of the building, on 120 North Main Street, Conklin said, “things just progressed and we decided to do it.”
He did not have a firm date to open, saying, “we’d rather do it sooner than later, but I want to do it right.” Conklin expects to have a hearing with the historic district commission in November.
“It may be in December, or it may be early next year. I’d just rather do it right,” he said, adding that the shop itself would probably not require extensive renovations, but that he would like to clean up the alleyway, which currently “looks a little rough.”
Because of space limitations in the narrow building, the new location will not offer indoor seating like its Chincoteague counterpart, although Conklin promised a full compliment of flavors would be offered.
“Our current plan is just to have a dipping can that’s right down the middle, perpendicular to Main Street, so people who walk in can see the flavors, see the signage and pay toward the back of the building and exit the side door into the alleyway,” he said.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells posted the news on Facebook last Friday.
During a council meeting on Monday night, she said that post had reached almost 100,000 people, including 130 comments and more than 1,100 “likes.” She noted the building was had been home to a Dairy Queen, many years ago.
Last year, Trip Advisor named the Island Creamery one of the 10 “Top Ice Cream Shops in the U.S.” Food & Wine and Buzzfeed also listed the shop on “best of” lists this year.