ROANOKE – A new local ice cream shop opens this week. Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. will open at the site of the former HITS Ice Cream shop off the Roanoke Greenway near the Walnut Street Bridge.
The owners took over the space and have some of the classic HITS recipes but have made new flavors too like sweet corn with black raspberry swirl and toasted coconut with white chocolate.
"My wife and I, Carolyn wanted to create a company that would be fun to work for and collaborate with and support the local economy," said Jason Kiser, Blue Cow Ice Cream owner. "We love Roanoke so much and we feel like there's a local movement going on. We want to support other craftsmen in our area, whether it be connecting with a vendor, farmer or collaborating with another chef or shop owner on flavors."
"You pick what's in your area, what's in season, what's available and really the sky's the limit with ideas. It's ice cream, so it's really a blank canvas.," said Ann Melchionna, Chef and General Manager.
Employees make all the ice cream in small batches on site and also a lot of the items they put in like sauces, pralines, cake and chocolate. They want to work with other local companies and farmers. The coffee ice cream uses Red Rooster Coffee.
You can get free ice cream Friday during the grand opening from 6 to 9 p.m. The shop opens for regular business Saturday.
The shop will operate year round, seven days a week. The summer hours will be 11am – 9pm Sunday – Thursday and 11am – 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. is located at 1115 Piedmont Street.