Summertime is the season for cold dairy and frozen treats and on National Ice Cream Day, what better way to cool off in the heat than supporting our own businesses.

Instead of a traditional single scoop from your neighborhood ice cream truck, try something new and explore some of the local Black-owned shops that might put you onto your new favorite flavor. We support the Black dollar staying in our communities so this year, show some love to the culture by shopping with some of these out-of-the-box businesses.

Check out the below Black-owned ice cream businesses that you should keep on your radar:

Creamalicious Ice Cream

Creamalicious Ice Cream is a Black woman-owned brand founded by Cincinnati-based chef Liz Rogers who is on the road to taking her company nationwide. From sweet potato pie and peach cobbler to Brown Suga Bourbon Cake, the brand is putting a spin on traditional Southern-style recipes for a medley of sweet delights that currently ship to anywhere in the U.S.

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Taharka Brothers Ice Cream

As a Baltimore-based majority Black-owned company, the Taharka Brothers have found success serving delicious ice cream treats to its local community since launching its business back in 2008. Even through the pandemic, the ice cream factory was able to survive by pivoting to a delivery model that brings ice cream straight to customers.

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Mikey Likes It Ice Cream

Serial entrepreneur Michael “Mikey” Cole may have stumbled into the ice cream business, but he found his stride after opening his own shop on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The Big Apple is filled with small ice cream shops, but Mikey Likes It Ice Cream is considered the world’s first pop culture inspired premium ice cream brand that’s serving the multitude right in New York City.

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Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats

Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats is a spin on the traditional bells-and-whistles ice cream truck that pedals around your local neighborhood, with a social experience that takes you back in time to channel the nostalgia of the retro 1950s. After operating out of a truck in the DMV area, the Virginia-born establishment recently opened up its own brick-and-mortar store in Alexandria, VA.

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Shawn Michelle’s Ice Cream

Chicago’s own Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream was originally founded by husband and wife duo Yahya and Nataki Muhammad to give customers a down home experience, and the business has since grown to become a staple in its Bronzeville, IL neighborhood. According to Time Out Chicago, co-owner Yahya says their business doesn’t just sell ice cream, “we sell experiences,” adding that “we want to take you back to Grandma’s” and “bring back memories.”

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Cool World Ice Cream Shop

Lil’ Ice Cream Dude’s Cool World Ice Cream Shop located in Athens, GA is more than a local establishment serving cold treats, it’s also a nationally-recognized shop that’s run by a 17-year-old entrepreneur and rising high school senior. According to Beau Shell’s mother, the then seven-year-old wasn’t satisfied with his $7 allowance, so he asked for an ice cream cart for his eighth birthday to make some extra cash. Now that same cart sits in his own brick-and-mortar store.

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Cajou Creamery

Cajou Creamery is known as the only plant-based ice cream company based out of Baltimore, MD that’s making premium vegan ice cream out of whole superfoods, free of chemicals, artificial flavors and fillers. In the last two plus years, the business has gone from a kitchen to selling in Baltimore City’s most popular farmer’s markets, gourmet grocers, and restaurant dessert menus. After launching its delivery service, the brand expanded to open up its first retail space right in its hometown to better serve its community.

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Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets

After noticing the lack of high quality local dessert businesses, chef Rabia Kamara created the change she wanted to see and founded Ruby Scoops in October 2014. Since then, the Black woman and queer-owned ice cream shop has been selling handcrafted ice cream, sorbet and cookies right on the Northside of Richmond, VA for all to come and enjoy.

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Kubé

Unlike any other ice cream company, Kubé is a Black woman-owned, artisanal vegan coconut ice cream manufacturer that specializes in making vegan ice cream. According to Business Insider, co-founder and owner Kai Nortey says her ice cream is so popular it “nearly sells out within two hours.” The brand has skyrocketed since launching as an online business back in 2016. Now its focus includes addressing systems of oppression in the food supply chain and helping to rebuild an inclusive regenerative economy through its products.

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Howdy Homemade Ice Cream

Howdy Homemade Ice Cream’s Tom Landis started his own Dallas-based ice cream business back in 2015 to employ mostly people with special needs. But now rapper, entrepreneur and local activist Trae Tha Truth is carrying the torch as one of the brand’s newest franchise owners and he’s continuing its original mission. The new franchise shop is set to open in Katy, TX later on this month.

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national ice cream day

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