The Summer Spotlight Keeps Cool With Piermont Creamery

On a hot, summer night, Piermont Creamery beckons patrons of all ages as the place to go to cool off with a cold and creamy treat. Serving up delicious, premium ice cream made in small batches on the premises every day, our village ice cream shop is a popular destination for residents, visitors, and cyclists alike, and has become a local highlight in our rivertown village scene.

When owner Lorraine Li first opened Piermont Creamery back in October of 2019, the locals were curious to check out her new store opening near the corner of Ash Street and Piermont Avenue. After six weeks, though, the store closed for the winter season, and when it reopened in March of 2020, Covid would force its doors to close again soon afterwards. But Lorraine managed to keep the business going — first by doing takeout orders for pints and then slowly opening the shop back up to customers. As patrons lined up outside, the store became an opportunity to fulfill the need for people to socialize safely. With a combination of luck, courage, and vision, Lorraine figured out how to make the store thrive and grow into the bustling business that it is today.

A person behind a counterDescription automatically generated Lorraine was born in Guangdong province in China, and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 12. After living a few months in New York City’s Chinatown, they moved to Brooklyn before finally settling down in South Jersey. Lorraine grew up spending time in her parents’ restaurants and saw how hard they worked, all day long, seven days a week. As an adult, she decided to channel her knowledge of how the restaurant business works but in a way that would enable her to have a balanced lifestyle. Before she opened Piermont Creamery, she had actually never made ice cream before! But she had the acumen to see that our rivertown community was ripe for a local ice cream shop, especially given the numerous visitors that frequent our restaurants and shops and walk the pier in the summertime.

Her ice cream model is simple: You start with a base formula with the right proportions, change the flavor and add whatever fix-ins you like. But as easy as it sounds, the end products draw rave reviews from customers like “wicked delicious” and “not overly sweet” as well as “creamy, smooth perfection.” She offers 20 different flavors, from classics like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, to unique concoctions like sea salt caramel with chocolate truffles, honey fresh ginger, and Thai tea. Cookies ‘n cream tops the list as the most popular flavor, while vegan options are also available, like black raspberry and lemon sorbet with coconut flakes. In addition, she and her staff can turn any flavor into a shake or sundae, or spruce it up with a variety of toppings. A new addition this year is a waffle maker, churning out crisp waffle cones throughout the day.

A sign on a windowDescription automatically generated Piermont Creamery has become so successful that in 2021, Lorraine decided to open another store in Nyack. Then in 2022, she moved the Piermont shop to its current location alongside Flywheel Park, and since then, business has continued to grow even more. And no wonder, because with its late hours and prime spot by the park overlooking the Hudson River, adults can easily grab an ice cream cone after dining at one of our many restaurants. Families flock to the store so kids can indulge in their favorite dessert with fun toppings like rainbow sprinkles and gummy bears. Teens make it a regular destination to chill with their friends. It’s the perfect thing to do on a steamy summer night — lick a creamy ice cream cone while strolling along the pier and gazing at the bridge lighting up the river.

Piermont Creamery has become so appealing that it even has a group of loyal customers who frequent the shop almost every day. One patron, Lola Esnard, stocks up on pints of ice cream before the store’s seasonal closing in November to tide her over until its reopening in March of the following year. She shared, “Lorraine and Rafi are the best! They have a cone waiting for me before I even get out of the car. I feel loved!” Cool off this summer by the river with Piermont Creamery where you can indulge in cold, sweet decadence.

By Shauna Wennerod

Local Spotlight — Piermont Creamery

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