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National Ice Cream Day couldn’t have come at a better time this year, what with all of these insufferable heatwaves roasting most of the country, including places that don’t normally get so hot.
What better way to counter the rising temperatures than with some freezing cold ice cream? That’s a trick question because while the obvious answer is to go grab some ice cream — which people can find anywhere — the better answer is to figure out where to get your ice cream from.
Baskin Robbins shops are easy enough to find, but that mega-business has been around for nearly 80 years. What about some of the local mom-and-pop ice cream shops? I’ll do you one better: What about those even fewer Black-owned ice cream shops — why not shop there?
Now, arguably more than ever, Black-owned businesses need our patronage. And what better time to start than on a sweltering National Ice Cream Day?
Keep reading to find a growing list of Black-owned ice cream makers who you should support.
New York City
Michael “Mikey” Cole is a serial entrepreneur but he said he stumbled upon the ice cream business by happenstance after having a cookbook fall on him while he was cleaning out a closet.
“I had no machine, no nothing. I put the ingredients into a bowl and popped it in the freezer. It was trash. So I was like we gotta change this,” Cole explained. “I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and got a tabletop ice cream machine, and then it was like: ‘Oh, I see what this is.’ People started coming over to my crib. They’re saying: ‘Mikey, this ice cream is damn good.’”
So he opened up Mikey Likes It on the Lower East Side, and the rest is history. If you’re not in New York City, you can still support Mikey Likes It by either buying some merchandise online or getting gift certificates for your friends who will be in the Bug Apple. You can even donate to help keep the shop open.
Los Angeles
With flavors like sweet potato pie and “brown suga bourbon cake,” Creamalicious is unapologetically Black-owned and operated. Liz Rogers is the founder, president and executive chef of Creamalicious Ice Creams, and the flavors she whipped up were inspired by “her own family recipes that have been passed down from 4 generations in the South,” according to the website.
Not in L.A.? No problem. Creamalicious’ website accepts online orders for shipping its unique ice cream anywhere in the U.S.
Chicago
Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream
Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream in Chicago boasts flavors like “melanin magic” and “banana pudding” that have helped keep the Black-owned business operating for nearly 30 years. While the shop doesn’t offer to ship any of its products, an in-person visit will get you your choice of ice cream cone, ice cream in a cup or one of Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream signature sundaes.
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Washington, D.C.
Located on the historic Georgia Avenue corridor and steps away from Howard University, Here’s The Scoop offers traditional and vegan options for ice cream and is even available for catering. If you’re ever in the nation’s capital, be sure to pay a visit to the good folks operating Here’s The Scoop.
Source: Shannon Fagan / Getty
Baltimore
Taharka Bros. Ice Cream in Charm City is not just Black-owned, but it is also employee-owned, as all six of the shop’s founders remain employed by their labor of love. Aside from traditional flavors, Taharka Bros. offers non-dairy options for those who might be lactose intolerant. Its products can be bought in-store, of course, but they can also be found around Baltimore at places like Oriole Stadium as well as a handful of restaurants and grocery stores. But if you’re not in Baltimore, you can place an online order and have it delivered to your home.
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Do you know of a Black-owned ice cream maker who we left off the list? Send us an e-mail at NewsOne-Core@interactiveone.com with the name(s) and location(s) of the shop and we will make sure to update this list.
SEE ALSO:
Happy National Dessert Day! 3 Yummy Recipes To Tickle Your Tastebuds
Surprising Summer Foods Your Child Shouldn’t Have
Black-Owned Ice Cream Makers You Should Support was originally published on newsone.com
