In a Connecticut town so quaint that Hallmark Christmas movies are regularly filmed there, ice cream plays a major role in warmer months, along with shopping, dining and museums.
The iconic Main Street Creamery & Cafe is part of a cast of attractions that make historic Old Wethersfield a walkable destination for visitors.
Creamery owner Michael Clarke refers to the whole package, not just his iconic ice cream shop, when he says, “It’s definitely worth the drive to come to Old Wethersfield.”
This time of year, the popular creamery and Cafe, 271 Main St. is at its busiest and often serves as a topper itself after a day of shopping, dining, sightseeing, Clarke said.
“We have tons of regulars and tons of visitors,” he said.
Some visitors come just for the ice cream and discover the town while they’re at it.
The warm, family-friendly vibe at “the creamery,” as it’s known locally, is part of the appeal, but also it’s the 60 flavors of small batch ice cream offered daily and additional, rotating specialty flavors such as lemon pie with graham crackers, white chocolate raspberry, espresso ripple bean, Maine black bear, extreme chocolate, Milky Way.
“I personally love all the berry flavors with peanut butter sauce,” Clarke said, noting they taste like a perfect PB & J.
The creamery has all the usual toppings, cones, cups, sundaes but they also offer a unique “flight” of ice cream, or four flavors in separated compartments.
It’s better than a tasting spoon offered by ice cream shops, because one might not get all the ingredients and hence, taste in that small sampling, Clarke said.
“It’s a nice way to get something new and you get more than a tasting spoon,” said Clarke, who got the idea from a friend who sells flights of beer at his brewery.
“I thought, ‘Why don’t we do it with ice cream?’ ” Clarke said. “Some people order the same ice cream, they’re not adventurous.”
The flight, $10, has become a popular item, Clarke said.
Clarke was an English teacher before he and his wife, Kathy, bought the business in 2017.
The career change was a good move, he said.
“As a teacher I spent a lot of time where people didn’t want to be there,” he said.
In the ice cream field, people always want to be there.
“Who’s not happy getting ice cream?” he said.
Reviewers online describe the ice cream as “heavenly,” “fantastic,” “sublime” with friendly staff and a “dizzying number of options.”
Clarke is emotionally and financially invested in Old Wethersfield, as he and his wife also own the historic red barn property which houses three woman-owned businesses, a toy store, Birdie’s, a children’s clothing store, Raised on Ridge and a vintage and new item home decor store, Cottonwood + Church
Clarke said he considers the creamery “a social hub in the neighborhood” and believes the business contributes to the “walkability” of the town.
The creamery is in the heart of Old Wethersfield’s historic district, which he describes as a nice combination of the old and new. There are shops, restaurants and three museums within walking distance of the creamery.
“I don’t think it gets any more quaint…Hallmark uses it for Christmas movies,” Clarke said. “If you took the cars and signage out you’d feel like you were in the 1700s.”
Their small batch ice cream is sourced locally from hand selected makers, all within a 20-mile radius.
He said they direct some of the flavors with their own ideas. They don’t have the space, he said, to make the ice cream there.
“Just because they make it themselves (ice cream places) doesn’t mean it’s the best product,” Clarke said.
The creamery, which opened 23 years ago, “has stood the test of time,” he said.
They also have a cafe component selling baked goods made in house and a signature coffee by Drumroll Coffee Roasters in Wethersfield.
Their signature coffee is called, “Small town, Big roast,” in keeping with the creamer’s slogan, “Small town, Big Family.”
The slogan was at the creamery when they bought it and, “that really resonated with us.”
The creamery and cafe seats 18 inside and has plenty of outside seating.
The creamery is a place where people have brought their kids and found their own photos from long ago on the wall of customers through the years. They are currently open seven days a week.
