It started with a Christmas present that created something so delicious it just had to be shared. Now, that gift of an ice cream-making machine has turned into a brick-and-mortar business. Milk Jawn ice cream shop will open in a 500 sq. ft. space at 1439 E. Passyunk Ave. in Philly in the spring of 2022, selling gourmet flavors by the cone, cup, pint, and in rotating sundae specials. The company, which is owned by Amy Wilson, Ryan Miller, and Cathryn Sanderson, will also relocate its production facility from MaKen Studios in Kensington to a 2,600 sq. ft. space at 1303 E. Passyunk Ave.
“I’ve always been creative in the kitchen. I love cooking and baking, and one year for Christmas, my husband got me an ice cream machine. I started experimenting with recipes, and from there, I just had so much fun with it,” Wilson tells What Now Philadelphia. “My husband really pushed me to turn it into a business. He was like, ‘This is too good to keep to myself, you have to share this ice cream.”
The creamery has about 10 regular flavors, like Pistachio, Tahini Fudge Swirl, Lemon Curd with Blueberry Basil Swirl, and Earl Grey with Honeycomb. They also make seasonal flavors, like Candy Cane, Dark Chocolate Orange Chip, and Caramel Apple Pie, and vegan flavors, like Mango Sticky Rice.
“I really wanted to try crafting some of the flavors from my childhood in New England. New Englanders take their ice cream very seriously. There were some flavors I missed, so I wanted to recreate and put my own spin on them,” Wilson says. “It’s so hard for me to pick [a favorite flavor]. I feel like they’re all my babies! I tend to go for chocolate peanut butter, so I made a million different versions of it to find the best balance of flavor.”
Wilson had been making ice cream at home for about 10 years before she and her partners began building their business between 2018 and 2019. It started with a series of pop-up shops selling ice cream by the scoop and pint, which would often sell out. In addition to getting your lick on at their pop-ups, you can also order Milk Jawn for home delivery or pick up a pint at local Philly stores like Stone’s Beer and Beverage Market, Riverwards Produce, and Ardmore’s Carlino’s Market. Milk Jawn also runs a wholesale operation. The delicious specialty ice cream grew so popular over two years that the company decided to open a storefront. Wilson says it’s likely they will still host pop-ups even after their storefront opens.
Check out Milk Jawn at milkjawn.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
