Herrell's Ice Cream
Encyclopedia
Herrell's Ice Cream is a chain of ice cream
stores across Massachusetts
and New York
.
The colorful store features over 200 homemade flavors of ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt
. The store is also famous for its hot fudge
and its technique of "Smoosh-ins", involving the manual amalgamation of ice cream toppings using an ice cream scoop
, to create a homogeneous blend according to the patron's taste.
by Steve Herrell. By mechanically altering a small batch commercial freezer, Steve produced an extraordinarily rich, creamy, low-air ice cream. Herrell was introduced to the Heath candy bar
by a friend in the late 1960s and felt that it would make an excellent addition to ice cream. When he opened his first store, instead of having pre-mixed flavors like chocolate chip
, he had his staff mix freshly made ice cream with candy or other confections based upon customer requests. These candy additions later became known as smoosh-ins. The custom-blended flavors proved to be highly desired by customer, and Steve sold out of ice cream on his first day open. The store became very popular in a short time.
Herrell sold his company to Joe Crugnale, the future founder of the Bertucci's
restaurant chain, in 1977.
and opened Herrell's Ice Cream in 1980, bringing with him all of the original recipes and techniques he used at Steve's.
. In 1982, a second store opened in Harvard Square
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. Another store at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
in North Adams, Massachusetts
, opened in 1996. The newest store in Huntington, New York
, opened in 2008.
In September 2009, the franchise owner of the Harvard Square location announced that he would close the ice cream parlor and replace it with a pub. This closure comes just months after another location in Allston, Massachusetts
also closed, leaving only a handful of stores still open.
All Herrell's stores make their own ice cream, fresh on the premises.
named Herrell's #2 in the nation. Newsweek
mentioned Herrell's "uncompromising quality" and called it "a mecca for ice cream lovers". In 2000, Julia Child
called Herrell's ice cream "delicious".
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
stores across Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The colorful store features over 200 homemade flavors of ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt is a frozen dessert containing yogurt or other dairy products. It is slightly more tart than ice cream, as well as lower in fat...
. The store is also famous for its hot fudge
Hot Fudge
Hot Fudge is an American children's television series that was produced in Detroit by WXYZ-TV and distributed by the Lexington Broadcast Services Company...
and its technique of "Smoosh-ins", involving the manual amalgamation of ice cream toppings using an ice cream scoop
Scoop
-Related to journalism:* Scoop , a news story, particularly connotating a new or developing story with aspects of importance and excitement, normally an exclusive for the journalist involved...
, to create a homogeneous blend according to the patron's taste.
Steve's Ice Cream
Steve's Ice Cream was founded in 1973 in Somerville, MassachusettsSomerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
by Steve Herrell. By mechanically altering a small batch commercial freezer, Steve produced an extraordinarily rich, creamy, low-air ice cream. Herrell was introduced to the Heath candy bar
Heath bar
The Heath bar is an American candy bar made of toffee, marketed by L.S. Heath beginning in 1928, subsequently by Leaf, Inc., and since 1996 by Hershey....
by a friend in the late 1960s and felt that it would make an excellent addition to ice cream. When he opened his first store, instead of having pre-mixed flavors like chocolate chip
Chocolate chip
Chocolate chips are small chunks of chocolate. They are often sold in a round, flat-bottomed teardrop shape. They are available in numerous sizes, from large to miniature, but are usually around 1 cm in diameter.-Origin:...
, he had his staff mix freshly made ice cream with candy or other confections based upon customer requests. These candy additions later became known as smoosh-ins. The custom-blended flavors proved to be highly desired by customer, and Steve sold out of ice cream on his first day open. The store became very popular in a short time.
Herrell sold his company to Joe Crugnale, the future founder of the Bertucci's
Bertucci's
Bertucci's is a Northborough, Massachusetts-based private company which runs a chain of sit-down Italian restaurants offering brick oven pizza and Italian food. It also offers delivery , take-out and private dining....
restaurant chain, in 1977.
Herrell's Ice Cream
After selling Steve's Ice Cream, Steve moved to Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
and opened Herrell's Ice Cream in 1980, bringing with him all of the original recipes and techniques he used at Steve's.
Stores
The flagship store and corporate headquarters is located in Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
. In 1982, a second store opened in Harvard Square
Harvard Square
Harvard Square is a large triangular area in the center of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street. It is the historic center of Cambridge...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. Another store at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, commonly referred to as MASS MoCA, is a museum in a converted factory building located in North Adams, Massachusetts, USA. It is one of the largest centers for contemporary visual art and performing arts in the country.MASS MoCA opened with 19...
in North Adams, Massachusetts
North Adams, Massachusetts
North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,708 as of the 2010 census, making it the least populous city in the state...
, opened in 1996. The newest store in Huntington, New York
Huntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
, opened in 2008.
In September 2009, the franchise owner of the Harvard Square location announced that he would close the ice cream parlor and replace it with a pub. This closure comes just months after another location in Allston, Massachusetts
Allston
-People:* Aaron Allston , an American novelist* Johanna Allston , an Australian orienteer* Robert Francis Withers Allston , a Governor of South Carolina...
also closed, leaving only a handful of stores still open.
All Herrell's stores make their own ice cream, fresh on the premises.
Critical opinion
USA TodayUSA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
named Herrell's #2 in the nation. Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
mentioned Herrell's "uncompromising quality" and called it "a mecca for ice cream lovers". In 2000, Julia Child
Julia Child
Julia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality. She is recognized for introducing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which...
called Herrell's ice cream "delicious".