Ample Hills Creamery to Reopen Astoria Store Thursday
Ample Hills Creamery in Astoria (QueensPost)
July 22, 2020 By Christian Murray
Ample Hills Creamery, the popular ice cream purveyor, is reopening its Astoria store Thursday after its exit from bankruptcy.
The company is reopening two other stores tomorrow—one in Prospect Heights and the other in Chelsea. The openings represent the first steps taken by Schmitt Industries, an Oregon-based company that acquired the bankrupt creamery in June.
The creamery, founded by the husband-and-wife duo of Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna, was established in 2010 and quickly grew to operate out of 13 locations. The couple filed for bankruptcy protection in March after experiencing financial difficulties.
The couple left the company following the June sale to Schmitt Industries.
“It is with deep sadness that Brian [Smith] and I have made the painful decision to move on from Ample Hills,” wrote Jackie Cuscuna in a post on company’s Instagram page on July 6.
Ample Hills in now in the process of reopening nine locations—including the three tomorrow– in coming weeks. It will also reopen its Red Hook factory.
The company plans to rehire all 200 employees, a spokesperson for the creamery said.
The 34-02 30th Ave. location will reopen Thursday and will operate between Monday – Thursday from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m., Friday – Saturday from 1 p.m. – 10 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
A Brooklyn man was indicted by a Queens grand jury on charges of manslaughter, drunk driving and other crimes for a fatal collision in Astoria that killed his long-time girlfriend and mother of their young child in February.
Ray Perez, 27, of Caton Avenue in Flatbush, was arraigned Thursday in Queens Supreme Court on a 13-count indictment charging him with vehicular manslaughter for allegedly speeding through a stop sign in Astoria, colliding with another vehicle and slamming into two parked cars, and then driving nearly four miles away to a street in Maspeth before seeking help for his 29-year-old girlfriend Bridget Enriquez, who later succumbed to her injuries.
Queens Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas and State Senator John Liu joined community advocates Tuesday to celebrate the passage of Sammy’s Law, a legislation that allows for New York City to determine its own speed limits, in the latest New York State budget.
Last November, when New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Queens community leaders unveiled the proposal for Metropolitan Park, local restaurant owner Manji Singh was all in.
The number of vehicle thefts across northern and southern Queens increased during the 28-day period from April 1-28, compared to the same period of time last year, according to the latest crime stats released by the NYPD Monday. At the same time, grand larcenies were down across the borough.
So many great things happening. What great times to be living in. Everyone loves ice cream!
except for the lactose intolerant and diabetics, which supposedly is half the population. thanks Coke and Pepsi!