We tried Ample Hills Creamery, the New York ice cream shop that's raising millions to become the next Ben & Jerry's
After visiting two stores, I can see why Ample Hills is on track to rival Ben & Jerry's. The flavors are just as fun, but the homemade quality of the ice cream sets the bar higher than its ever been.
I just had to taste test a couple more flavors, so I enjoyed the best-sellers, Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and Snap Mallow Pop. Ooey Gooey Butter Cake was by far my favorite.
As Smith described it, "The cake is a St. Louis tradition with thick, dense, cream cheese-laden cake in a vanilla cream cheese ice cream." The Snap Mallow Pop tasted exactly like a Rice Krispie and made for a scrumptious combination with my other scoop.
Given the rapid expansion, I wanted to see how another Ample Hills store would stack up to the original location, and I was not let down. The Bubby's High Line store in Manhattan was considerably smaller because it has to share space with a restaurant, but the employees were just as friendly and the ice cream just as good.
Guests are welcome to leave flavor suggestions to be made from the hormone-free, cane sugar ice cream.
... and even ice cream scoops so that everyone can feel like an "Amployee," the name the chain has given its workers.
For the die-hard fans, Ample Hills sells T-shirts, tank tops, bags …
Ample Hills also offers classes ranging from the basics to lessons on alcohol-infused recipes. Each class costs $95 and sells out quickly.
People don't just flock to the creamery for its desserts. Every month, Ample Hills hosts a "Pints and Postcards" event, where a pay-as-you-wish sundae bar is opened and guests can fill out meaningful postcards. The proceeds are then donated to the charity chosen for that month.
Ample Hills is a certified dairy plant, pasteurizing the dairy daily in-house and baking all goods on the spot.
Each store has a signature flavor. Here, it's the Vanderbilt Exclusive. It's smothered in decadent caramel and is perfect for anyone with a strong sweet tooth. I also treated myself to a scoop of the Raw Deal, which is made perfect by the massive chunks of cookie dough.
Ample Hills will soon open a 15,000-square-foot factory and interactive storefront in Brooklyn. There, customers will be able to tour the property while indulging in the rich offerings.
When asked about the comparison to Ben & Jerry's, Smith says he is "honored and thrilled by the comparison." He added: "Ben & Jerry's is my favorite ice cream (outside of ours of course!) and they were truly an inspiration to us. We feel we are different because of our focus on building dynamic and experiential scoop shops."
The cones and cups range from $2.75 to $8.25, depending on the size.
Inside the store, I found bright colors, friendly employees, and more ice cream flavors than I could have imagined. A few days after the store opened in 2011, Ample Hills had to temporarily close its doors due to an ice cream shortage. Demand was much higher than they had anticipated.
Named after a lilting Walt Whitman poem, "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," the original Vanderbilt Street location aimed to capture the welcoming attitude of Brooklyn's Prospect Heights neighborhood.
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