Lumpy's Ice Cream, a stalwart of the Raleigh food scene, has finally opened a retail shop in downtown Wake Forest.
The shop opened Saturday and will hold a grand opening celebration starting at 11 a.m. March 24. It is at 306 E. Wait Ave., Wake Forest, three doors down from the Hardee's.
Owner Buck Buchanan has been making all natural ice cream and selling it at special events across the Triangle for 11 years. He's a regular in the Got to Be NC tent at the N.C. State Fair and well-known for his inventive flavors, including a bourbon and bacon ice cream.
About finally having a retail space, Buchanan says, "It's amazing. The community support so far has been humbling." Buchanan says folks would often comment that they loved his ice cream but they couldn't get it when they wanted it. Now, he says, "We're in a place where people can always get it if they want it."
The 1,800-square-foot store will sell pints as well as scoops of ice cream. Scoops will be available in 14 different flavors. The selection will rotate among the up to 200 flavors that Buchanan has created over the years. (Their most popular flavor is chocolate.)
The grand opening celebration will include appearances by Carolina Railhawks players and their mascot and N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. Plus, the North Carolina Goodness Grows grocery cart and the Got to be NC recreational vehicle will be on hand. And Hartford Insurance, which filmed a commercial using Buchanan, will be there filming a second commercial. (Go HERE to see that commercial.)
The store is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-9 p.m Sunday.
