Ample Hills Explained

Ample Hills
Industry:	Ice cream
Predecessors:	-->
Successors:	-->
Founded:	2010
Founders:	Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna
Areas Served:	-->
Key People:	Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna
Owners:	-->

Ample Hills is an American ice cream company. Founded by Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna as a pushcart in 2010, the company became known for its "playful" flavors. Their first storefront, in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, opened in 2011, selling out 130 gallons of ice cream in just 4 days.^[1] It soon expanded into a chain prominent in New York City, with additional locations at one point in Disney World and Los Angeles.^[2] The company filed for bankruptcy in March 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic due to operating losses from its Red Hook factory,^[3] and other self-described business mistakes.^[4] Schmitt Industries acquired Ample Hills from bankruptcy for $1 million.^[5] The founders signed a lease to open a new ice cream company and shop, the Social, in March 2021.^[6] Due to failure to pay rent and expenses, Schmitt Industries closed all Ample Hills locations on December 19, 2022.^[7]

Ample Hills reopened in June 2023, with original owners Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna having bought it back after it went into receivership.^[8] However, by late 2023, the pair had exited the still-operating company.^[9]

Further reading

• Web site: Adams . Erika . Ice Cream Chain Ample Hills Acquired by Manufacturing Company for $1M After Bankruptcy . Eater NY . 2020-06-23 . en . 2021-02-04 . mdy-all .
• Web site: Adams . Erika . Brooklyn Ice Cream Shop Ample Hills Is Auctioning Itself Off to Big Players Like Unilever . Eater NY . 2020-04-23 . en . 2021-02-04 . mdy-all .
• Web site: Dai . Serena . There Are Two Kinds of People: Those Who Like Van Leeuwen, and Those Who Like Ample Hills . Eater NY . 2020-06-23 . en . 2021-02-04 . mdy-all .
• Web site: Duggan . Kevin . Founders of Ample Hills Creamery leave business following bankruptcy announcement . amNewYork . 2020-07-07 . en-US . 2021-02-04 . mdy-all .
• News: Fabricant . Florence . Ample Hills Opens Its Red Hook Factory . . 2018-07-31 . en-US . mdy-all .
• News: Fabricant . Florence . Frozen Yogurt With a Twist . . 2018-07-09 . en-US . mdy-all .
• Web site: Gootman . Elissa . So Successful, a New Ice Cream Shop Closes After 4 Days . . 2011-06-02 . en-US . 2021-02-04 . mdy-all .
• News: Hadis . Diego . Brooklyn's Most Beloved Ice Cream Shop Creates a Special Flavor for T . . 2014-04-21 . en-US . mdy-all .
• News: Rao . Tejal . In Brooklyn, a Chance to Enjoy Factory-Fresh Ice Cream . . 2017-08-28 . en-US . mdy-all .

Notes and References

1. Web site: So Successful a New Ice Cream Shop Closes After 4 Days . Gootman . Elissa . The New York Times . June 2, 2011 . February 4, 2021.
2. Web site: Kang . Matthew . 2020-01-27 . Ample Hills Creamery closes flagship Los Feliz location after 15 months . 2021-02-04 . Eater LA . en . mdy-all.
3. Web site: Adams . Erika . Popular Ice Cream Chain Ample Hills Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy . Eater NY . 2020-03-16 . en . 2021-02-04 . mdy-all .
4. Web site: Rubin . Courtney . 2021-02-05 . The Shocking Meltdown of Ample Hills — Brooklyn's Hottest Ice Cream Company . 2023-06-17 . Marker . en.
5. Web site: Adams . Erika . Warerkar . Tanay . Ice Cream Chain Ample Hills Acquired by Manufacturing Company for $1M After Bankruptcy . Eater NY . 2020-06-23 . en . 2021-03-20 . mdy-all .
6. Web site: Sytsma . Alan . Ample Hills' Founders Return With a New Shop and a New Focus . . 2021-03-16 . en-us . 2021-03-20 . mdy-all .
7. Web site: 2023-01-11 . All Ample Hills ice cream shops close indefinitely . 2023-03-16 . en-US.
8. News: Moskin . Julia . 2023-06-16 . After an Epic Meltdown, Ample Hills Creamery Aims to Rise Again . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-06-17 . 0362-4331.
9. News: Moskin . Julia . 2023-11-29 . Ample Hills Founders Are Out of the Business Again . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-12-31 . 0362-4331.