Icy Ventures in Long Island
A family from Long Island has recently jumped into the ice cream business, providing homemade treats via boat to those enjoying the waters of the South Shore.
“Any Long Islander knows summer here is something special,” Caitlin Mann, of Mann’s Homemade Ice Cream in Amityville, shared.
“We thought, why not take what we love to the water?” she said. Caitlin, who has just graduated in psychology, spends her weekends serving ice cream from their 6-foot center console boat alongside her father, Eric. He’s been a boater for years and has his phone number visible on the boat for orders.
The pair sets off into the coves and canals of Amityville and the Massapequa area, where they often hear calls and shouts from other boaters and waterfront homeowners.
“It’s not every day you have an ice cream truck at your dock,” remarked Sue Sklarsky, a regular customer, as she savored the family’s beloved homemade cherry vanilla.
They offer five rotating flavors priced at $8 for a small and $13 for a large. Recently, flavors included chocolate, mint chip, and, of course, the favorite cherry vanilla, along with cookie dough and cookies and cream, which is quite popular.
“This is incredible. It’s the best ice cream I’ve had while boating,” said Mike Iacono, who was anchored in Massapequa Bay when the Manns made their delivery.
“I need this every time I’m on the water,” he added.
With a sub-zero refrigerator on board capable of storing 30 gallons of ice cream, they typically return to their dock empty after about 20 stops. Locals often claim that the Manns were the pioneers of selling real ice cream from a boat, instead of the usual pre-packaged options.
“We’ve been hoping someone would try this,” Christina Pizzicillo, a resident, said as her daughter enjoyed chocolate ice cream. “We’re all in for it,” she added.
The Mann family’s venture has gained significant popularity, with bookings for birthdays, communions, and graduations becoming common. Sometimes, parents text Eric spontaneously if their children are having friends over.
“It’s already become more popular than when we started last summer,” Caitlin noted. “People see us out here, but many don’t even realize we have a shop.”
The Mann family’s ice cream recipe has roots in two bakeries from Queens, where Eric’s grandfather served ice cream off the menu. After leaving his job as an electrical engineer, Eric decided to open a storefront last year.
“We needed a name origin. Ice cream was our mission,” he explained.
Now, Eric operates the ice cream shop with Caitlin and his other two daughters, Amanda and Cassidy, along with his wife, Linda. The family collaborates closely, with Eric and Caitlin managing the deliveries while the rest of the family, including Eric’s parents, Ed and Charlene, handle making the ice cream and managing operations on land.
“I can’t remember a family conversation that wasn’t about ice cream since we started this,” Caitlin laughed. “We’ve always been close, but this has definitely brought us even closer, and we really appreciate that.”
