OUT TO EAT

Lick Ice Cream coming to Mass Ave

Signature flavors such as Gingersnap Lemon Curd, Cranberry Shortbread and French Vanilla Cognac made Lick a popular stop at farmers markets

Liz Biro
liz.biro@indystar.com
Spiced pumpkin cream-cheese ice cream is a specialty at Lick Ice Cream, which is opening an ice cream parlor on Mass Ave this spring. Meantime, Lick is at the Indy Winter Farmers Market on Saturdays through April.

Ice cream makers who own Lick plan to bring the Indy-based business' first ice cream parlor to Mass Ave this spring.

Sisters Meredith Kong and Kelly Ryan started Lick gourmet ice cream in 2010 with no experience and an ice cream maker Kong received as a wedding gift. Signature flavors such as Gingersnap Lemon Curd, Cranberry Shortbread and French Vanilla Cognac made Lick a popular stop at farmers markets and among wholesale clients.

Kong and Ryan started eyeing locations for an ice cream parlor in 2014. Funding and a lease for the Mass Ave space they've selected are still in the works. Therefore, the sisters would not reveal the address. Some Lick fans wonder if it's the spot near Ball & Biscuit where an Orange Leaf frozen yogurt shop was slated.

Wherever they land, Kong and Ryan need startup help. They've launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. Contributors will be rewarded with buttons, prints, T-shirts and ice cream parties. Money raised will help pay for a flash freezer and large-batch ice cream machine.

"We're doing OK, and we're making profit, but pieces of machinery we need are extraordinarily expensive," Kong said. "It costs a lot of money to open an ice cream shop, as we're finding out."

LIck Ice Cream founders and operators Meredith Kong and Kelly Ryan show off matching ice cream scooper tattoos.

Simple-looking ice cream parlors are more than the few display freezers, tables, chairs and a cash register customers see.

The edgy idea Kong and Ryan have in mind incorporates lots of wood, a communal table and grown-up flavors along with traditional favorites.

A bar would serve shakes and floats, possibly some spiked with beer. Expect ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cakes, too. A window would showcase ice cream-making operations.

The plan will cost about $185,000, $50,000 of which would fund equipment, Kong said.

Best-case scenario, the shop would open in April, but may be delayed until sometime between May and July, Kong said.

"We just know that this is the next step," she said.

"Every Saturday morning at the farmers market is like Christmas for us when people taste the ice cream and tell us how much they like it. We want to be able to that every single day."

Lick ice creams contain organic, seasonal and local ingredients. Currently on the list is Buttermilk and Cookies with homemade buttermilk and Newman's Own chocolate sandwich cookies. Elderberry Winter Remedy blends ginger, honey and lemon.

"We always love bringing it back during cold and flu season," Kong said of the elderberry flavor. "We really have had people say, 'I feel better after a pint.' "

Lick is working with Indy's Bee Coffee Roasters and General American Donut Co. to produce a coffee and doughnuts flavor. In the meantime, Kong likes a scoop of ice cream in coffee, hot cocoa and warm brownie sundaes. Vanilla in hot chai tea sounds yummy, too.

Find Lick at the Saturday Indy Winter Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays at Downtown's City Market.

Call Liz Biro at (317) 444-6264. Follow her on Twitter @lizbiro, Instagram@lizbirodish and Facebook. Email her at liz.biro@indystar.com.