New CT ice cream shop sells 900 servings in soft opening; makes ’emergency’ call to get more
When brother and sister duo recently had a soft opening of their new ice cream business, they had to make “emergency” calls to get more to serve the happy crowd.
The siblings, Erin Gray and Ben Waterbury, who have owned the Eagle’s View Diner and deli for four years, decided to try their hand in the ice cream business and are off to a booming start.
Gray, 44, and Waterbury, 43, had a soft opening for the newly opened Crazy Cow Creamery in Wolcott over the weekend and the doors were bursting with customers. Gray said she served out more than 900 cups or cones over that time.
The owners, in fact, said they had to make multiple “emergency” calls to get more Hershey Ice Cream from the company’s Middletown location to satisfy customers craving frozen dairy desserts.
When the siblings opened Eagle’s View at 246 Wolcott Road, in Wolcott, Gray and Waterbury served ice cream at that location, but it wasn’t a focal point.
“We started selling ice cream; It was too much for one spot with hot food, cold food and sandwiches,” Waterbury said.
“We said to each other, ‘wouldn’t it be great to open an ice cream shop?’” Gray said.
“We were casually looking, and this place opened up like it was meant to be…We tossed around the idea of another restaurant, but you have to babysit a restaurant. Here, we just ask, ‘how many scoops do you want?’”
Waterbury said he also put up a poll on a Wolcott Facebook page, asking which small business is most needed in town, and ice cream was the top answer.
“We wanted to fill that void,” Waterbury said.
Gray and Waterbury agreed to rent 388 Wolcott Road in March and after seven weeks of repairs, including new flooring, the Crazy Cow Creamery opened on Friday, May 3. The site is about 24 miles from Hartford, 18 miles from Middletown and 35 miles from New Haven.
The owners have Eagle’s View open from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The ice cream shop opens from 4 to 9 p.m.
The shop was flooded with people all day on Friday and Saturday and even on a rainy and cooler Sunday there were plenty of customers.
“We told everyone from our restaurant that we were opening, and we put in on social media,” Waterbury said.
The siblings grew up in the North End of Waterbury. Both graduated from Wilby High School, Erin in 1998 and Ben in 2000. Gray lives in Bristol now and Waterbury in Middlebury.
Prior to the opening of the diner, Gray was a stay-at-home mom, and Waterbury co-owned a landscaping business.
“A contractor and a mom and somehow we have made it work,” Waterbury said. “It’s called good work ethic.”
Gray said the unique “kid flavors” have sold the best in the first five days. The mint variety of ice creams are also popular.
The banana split is another hit. These are big enough to share.
“In over two years at the diner we sold one banana split. Now we are selling 10 a night,” Gray said.
“We are all about the deals. I don’t like people walking away without thinking they are getting what they pay for,” she said. “We want people to get good portions without killing them on the price.”
Gray said the business is starting with the basics so far, until they can train the staff more. They are looking to do bigger milkshakes with toppings.
“We are a creative crew, and we have ideas,” Gray said. “We have (times) with four different ice creams, and we have ice cream nachos.”
Gray and Waterbury employ 13 total employees at both locations.
Gray said the personal connection with customers is vital.
“I like to meet the customers each day and if you come in more than twice, I will know your name,” Gray said. “We have a good connection with our customers at the diner…We picked Wolcott because of that connection. We have a good following.”
“Erin was never a risk taker, and the family couldn’t believe it,” Waterbury said. “I took her out of her shell. It’s crazy we are doing this.”
“It didn’t take too long to convince me,” Gray added. “Now we are thinking what we are going to do next. This has been so much fun. I know we are only five days in but its considerably easier than the Eagle’s Nest – scooping ice cream and making people smile.”
Cheshire’s Amanda Medling was enjoying ice cream with her daughter Penny and nephew Hunter and baby Heath this week.
“This is delicious,” Hunter said while eating his rainbow ice cream.
Medling had a cup of coffee ice cream.
“It’s delicious and the prices are good,” she said. “We are ice cream entrepreneurs. I found about it on Facebook, and we thought we had to try it out and we will be back for sure.”