In The Creemee Of Life There Is Always A New Flavor To Try!

By Cookie Steponaitis

Creemee stands signal the arrival of summer and as sure as the trees become green they serve as gathering spots for locals and tourists alike. They are a place to race to with exuberant enthusiasm and anticipation of experiencing the first sweet taste of the season’s ice cream. They are a location where generations gather to see people and catch up on the winter news while sampling the new flavors to be added to a list of must tries. In short, the crèemee and Vermont are linked together in tradition. While there are many crèemee stands in the region there are some that claim our hearts and stomachs and are part of family traditions.

Bristol’s Village Creemee Stand

It all started thirty two years ago for Tom Wallace and the Village Cremee Stand. Since the May 1 opening all those years ago, three things are clearly evident that define the norm for Bristol and the surrounding communities. First is that on opening day there will be a line down the road quite a piece and second, Tom is never far away. Third is that the maple and black raspberry creèmees are to die for! On this sunny Mother’s Day stopping by the cerèmee stand to enjoy a maple creèmee finds daughter Piper Westbrook on the job and greeting people by their first name. “I started here when I was thirteen,” shared Piper. “All my aunt’s kids worked here and we mostly hire local teens. My dad is the kind of guy who stays with things and this place is kind of a town landmark.”

While Tom and Piper have no exact count of the number of people who have stopped in and eaten at the stand, multiple thousands seems simply the best way to put it at this moment. Class of 2014 Mount Abraham juniors Mark Jipner and Luke Calzini were at the window on this sunny day and like so many other teens who have worked at the Village Creemee Stand have learned not only a good work ethic but that a fast paced environment requires working together and learning to cook. There is everything available from ice cream to burgers along with many other delectable treats on the menu so come on over to 41 West Main Street in Bristol and check it out for the first time or for the fortieth time. You will see Tom, Piper and all the teens waiting with a smile, your regular favorites and new must tries. After all, even the sign itself is steeped in tradition because local artist Reed Prescott cut and painted it.

Goodies Creemee & Snack Bar in Addison

For the past fourteen years Goodies regulars know it is summer when over half of the local people in town can be found in the yard of Goodies Snack Bar, talking, sharing and eating. The creemees come out of the window as fast as people order and there is no shortage of yummy flavors to try. Another local tradition is watching the first timers. People who frequent Goodies on a regular basis know that a large creemee at Goodies is unbelievably big. However, those coming from out of state or for the first time often order a large and the expression on their faces when the window opens and they are presented with a Goodies large is priceless. Some actually blush and most utter the immortal words, “Oh my God, I had no idea.”

Whether it is the Hot Fudge Sunday, to die for cheese fries or the new Ultimate Sunday, Goodies is the place to meet, eat and celebrate the return of summer to Vermont. Goodies is opened between 12-9 pm seven days a week. Stop in and say hi to Kelli-Jo Cloutier and Cassi Devino in the kitchen or Hailey Paquette and the rest of the team at the windows. As sure as it is summer you will see a friend or maybe even strike up a conversation with someone new. Goodies has been a landmark for over forty years and it is the place to go to meet, greet, and eat!

Sweet Scoops in Vergennes

Whether called by its former name The Main Scoop or its new name Sweet Scoops, local people begin frequenting this neighborhood ice-cream and creemee stand earlier than most nearby locations. Sweet Scoops is owned by Matt Wright of Derby, Vermont and opened up the week before April vacation and has many familiar youthful faces that have been a part of Vergennes summer for the past many years.

Stopping by on Mother’s Day found Kenadi Dattilio, Abbey Grngreau and Gabby Mutini hard at work whipping up the famed black raspberry creemees and some larger than life Hot Fudge Sundays. The stand is open between 1-9 pm Monday-Saturday and 12-9 pm on Sunday and offers twenty four creemee flavors and a variety of hard ice cream as well. When asked to share some flavors that are yummy but that might not be tried right off the bat by customers, the girls said that Smurf Cotton Candy and Pistachio are both incredibly tasty treats.

So no matter your destination the corners of Addison County have delectable treats waiting for you and yours to enjoy. Need directions? Just ask any of the locals because our cars don’t need a GPS to find the way. It is engrained in our minds, stomachs and hearts that as the seasons change and Vermont becomes green; it is time to make the pilgrimage for that first creemee of the season and to go back repeatedly until Labor Day weekend signals the arrival of fall.

Ready, set, go and welcome summer to all who live here and come to see why it is such a great place to be!