Emack & Bolio's opens second Long Island ice cream shop, in Mineola
Emack & Bolio's has opened a second Nassau ice cream shop, in Mineola. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
Less than a year after opening in Rockville Centre, Emack & Bolio’s — the brand that became synonymous with after-gig munchies for local musicians and touring rock stars back when it launched in a Boston basement in 1975 — has opened its second Nassau scoop shop, in Mineola.
With locations scattered around New York City and reaching as far as China, the storefronts all feature a colorful mural with Emack & Bolio’s signature logo — a winged angel proffering an ice cream cone. But it’s the brand’s wacky flavor collaborations and cones trimmed in sugary treats, from Froot Loops to sprinkles to shaved coconut, that create repeat customers. Some of the more popular flavors have included Bananas Foster, S’moreo and Stoney’s Dream, which has vanilla ice cream with brownies, chocolate chip cookies and fudge swirl.
Also on the flavor list: Grasshopper Pie made from crème de menthe, Oreos and chocolate chips, and Beantown Buzz, an espresso-based ice cream with cookie crunch and chocolate-covered espresso beans. The shop also offers sugar-free, yogurt and small-batch vegan options — made from coconut cream — and sorbet. The cows from which they source are hormone-free, and the recipes use clean ingredients such as pure cane sugar and coconut oil. Vegan options include Goa mango and raspberry chocolate-covered Krispy rice and toasted coconut. You can also take home pints and quarts, build your own sundae and create a smoothie with any of their frozen treats.
Commack native Christopher Wierzbicki, a commercial real estate executive, owns both the Rockville Centre and Mineola locations. His interest in the ice cream business began during the pandemic, after he bought Waffle Cabin in Long Beach. One of his challenges? "Finding good local ice cream to serve in our desserts. Somewhere I could source from locally."
A few recommendations for Emack & Bolio’s found their way to Wierzbicki, but the order size he would need for Waffle Cabin wasn’t near the "100 tubs" he would need to license the brand. After Waffle Cabin closed (Wierzbicki "still owns the truck"), and the Rockville Centre site came on the market, he decided to shift to licensing that "awesome ice cream" he loved. One of the biggest perks? Impressing his kids with his new gig.
For the Mineola store, which is on prime Second Street, next to P.S. Burgers, he "renovated the entire space, ripping out floors and countertops, adding dipping wells and cake fridges." Happy with the business in Rockville Centre, and Mineola's launch, Wierzbicki says, "The goal now is just hopefully, if we can time it correctly, one a year."
Emack & Bolio’s, 196 Second Street, Mineola, 516-945-1111, emackandbolios.com, Open daily from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
