Big Spoon Creamery has big plans as it churns toward Avondale storefront next year
Big Spoon Creamery's artisan ice cream has been a big hit through its food truck and cart sales, and now the company is getting ready to open its first storefront in Avondale. (Bruce Nix/Alabama NewsCenter)
Since its debut in 2014, Big Spoon Creamery has been scooping out cold and bold flavors in Birmingham.
The business started selling ice cream out of a driveway, moved into an ice cream cart, and now in its truck, Bussie Blue, and soon on to a storefront, all accomplished in a two-year span. Big Spoon Creamery owners Ryan and Geri-Martha O’Hara never imagined that their business would be so successful in such a short time.
“We felt confident in what we were doing, but we didn’t anticipate this kind of reception and rapid growth that we have seen,” Ryan O’Hara said. “It has definitely been awesome and surprising.”
Big Spoon Creamery is a small-batch, artisan ice cream company that focuses on seasonal flavors and using local ingredients to create innovative treats. The company has a unique selection of flavors served in cones, pints or “sammies,” ice cream sandwiches.
With creations like “scooper hero” doughnut ice cream sandwiches (a collaboration with like-minded Hero Doughnuts), Rocky Ridge Road (its take on traditional rocky road made with marshmallow fluff), and choco tacos, it’s easy to see why Big Spoon’s popularity has grown in Birmingham.
Others have taken notice.
The business has been featured in Southern Living magazine. The James Beard Foundation called its “American Dream” cookie and ice cream chocolate-dipped creation “the most beautiful ice cream sandwich on Earth.”
The O’Haras both have culinary backgrounds and met while working at Bottega in Birmingham. Geri-Martha has a background in pastries, so she creates the flavors and develops the recipes. She leads the production kitchen, which handcrafts the ice cream batches and the hand-rolled artisan cones such as salted blue corn, almond vanilla, birthday cake and orangevanilla creamsicle.
Big Spoon’s storefront creamery is expected to open in spring 2017 in Avondale on Box Row. Along with the ice cream flavors, the O’Haras are considering adding pastries (such as the popular Nutella cookies) to the menu.
It will continue the growth that started with the husband and wife and has expanded to an eight-person team.
Ryan O’Hara said the best part of the experience is the people they serve and hire.
“It’s really fun getting to bring a piece of joy to people’s lives,” he said. “It’s fun to get to interact with people on a daily basis and put a smile on their faces. It’s also fun to watch our own team grow and develop. Getting to do something really special for people.”
Big Spoon’s ice cream selection changes every month, so customers never know what treats to expect. “The classic,” chocolate chip ice cream cookie and chocolate tacos are consistent favorites and will be on the menu during Big Spoon’s birthday celebration Sunday.
