Pretty please with an Izzy on top
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One of the oldest dessert recipes known to people everywhere is the foundation of a St. Paul business that competes directly with some of the biggest players in the industry.
Izzy’s Ice Cream Café opened its doors in 2000 at the hands of husband-and-wife team Jeff Sommers and Lara Hammel. Between running a business, raising two children and Hammel working as a lawyer, the owners were too busy to talk to a reporter. But employees and others help tell their story.
The duo decided that they wanted to do something different and took the first steps to opening their own business only a few weeks after the initial idea. They took a class to learn how to make ice cream by hand using the “artisan” method, which involves incorporating less air during the stirring process to give the ice cream a heavier texture. Italians have been using a similar method since the 1500s, according to The Ice Cream Information Network.
Their ice cream is handmade in a five-gallon machine, and each batch takes about 15 minutes to complete. A “secret” mix from Classic Mix Partners of Neenah, Wis., is added to all of Izzy’s flavors. Local ingredients are used when possible. For example, Mayan Chocolate Sorbet is made with Mayan Experience Sipping Chocolate from St. Paul’s Legacy Chocolates. The chocolate gives the sorbet a “fudgesicle” flavor.
Izzy’s is located on Marshall Avenue, and the owners plan on staying put, according to General Manager Chelsea Duke. Izzy’s ice cream is sold by local grocery stores such as Mississippi Market and is served at various locations such as The Birchwood Café and The St. Paul Hotel. Duke said there are no plans to franchise the store.
By remaining local, Izzy’s is helping Minnesota’s economy. According to MN2020 Research Fellow Lee Egerstrom, when consumers support local retail, 68 cents of every dollar stays in Minnesota versus 43 cents from big box retailers like Wal-Mart. Although Duke would not discuss gross annual receipts, she did say that the economic recession has not had an affect on Izzy’s business.
Izzy’s caters parties, hosts birthday parties and offers corporate tours of its facilities. Thirty-one flavors are on sale in the store, and 20 flavors are available at grocery stories and restaurants. Community members have also contributed to Izzy’s menu. Every year, an ice cream tasting contest is held where customers submit and then get to vote on new flavors. Last year’s Pomegranate Pizzazz won “Best in Show” – the first time the award was given to a sorbet.
Izzy’s is also environmentally friendly. The shop’s solar project, High Noon Solar, began in May 2004 and took a giant leap forward on Nov. 25, 2005 when the solar panels produced electricity for the first time.
“By going partially solar, the owners wanted to get connected with the community and work to save money for the company,” Duke said.
Izzy’s owners are trying to do their part in reducing their ecological footprint while promoting the use of renewable energy to other small businesses in Minnesota. Although some details are pending, Sommers and Hammel plan to sponsor a $500 annual grant to an individual or business to install solar energy systems in the Twin Cities.
With Izzy’s 20 freezers that run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the owners were well aware of their environmental impact.
“On a sunny, summer day Izzy’s production facility is one-third solar powered,” Duke said.
More than 200 solar panels cover Izzy’s roof. The panels were purchased from the Green Institute. High Noon Solar has become a community project, with panels available for sponsorship at $100 per panel. Customers receive a $25 Izzy’s gift certificate with the sponsorship of a panel. About 150 panels are still available for sponsorship. Community members have contributed hundreds of hours of volunteer time to the project.
The entire High Noon Solar project costs about $60,000. Approximately $20,000 has already been raised by donations.
Solar power is not the only way the store stands out. Izzy’s provides options for diet-conscious consumers. Both the soy ice cream and the sorbets are vegan products.
“It has had a very positive reaction within the community,” Duke said. “Many places do not offer up vegan ice cream products, much less such a variety.” Izzy’s currently carries more than 20 sorbet flavors and 10 soy ice cream flavors.
Aside from carrying niche items, Izzy’s Ice Cream is also famous for a smaller reason. The shop is home to the “Izzy scoop.” The “Izzy” is a smaller scoop of ice cream that gives people the option of having a different taste without feeling embarrassed about asking for a sample.
“Although we love to give samples away, too,” Duke said.
Izzy’s is a small shop that has generated big buzz and even national acclaim since its inception. It has been featured in Reader’s Digest and frequently rates high on the lists of food critics. From small beginnings, Izzy’s has proved that old-fashioned sometimes leaves the best taste.