New local creamery opens

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If You Go

What: Big Spoon Creamery

When: From noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 2 to 10 p.m. on Sundays

Where: 725 Electric Ave. in Lewistown

For more information: Call 447-0227

LEWISTOWN - Rich Yohn and Kerry Rager, co-owners of Big Spoon Creamery on Electric Avenue in Lewistown, started their business with a main goal in mind: to become a one-stop ice cream store in Mifflin County, they said.

Yohn got the idea for the business about two years ago, and at the time asked Rager if he would be his business partner, he said, adding that the two knew each other briefly before opening the store.

"We talked about this location," Yohn said.

Yohn and Rager researched equipment, manufacturing and the basics of making ice cream before going into business. The store officially opened May 22, Yohn said.

The two tossed around some names before landing on the current one. Yohn liked the word "creamery," he said, "because we're making our own ice cream."

Big Spoon Creamery offers banana splits, eight different flavors of milk shakes, arctic swirls and a total of 18 ice cream flavors, with 16 on display at a time, Yohn and Rager said.

The most popular flavors are black raspberry, butter pecan, sticky bun, vanilla peanut butter swirl and tea berry, they said.

"They're all pretty popular, actually," Rager said. "Everyone has their taste."

To make the ice cream, Yohn and Rager buy pasteurized milk products with 14-percent butter fat, and use a base mix. They then add the flavorings, and blend nuts, chocolate chips and other needed ingredients, they said.

The ice cream is stored for 12 to 24 hours in a freezer at 40 degrees below Fahrenheit, and then stored in a regular freezer, they said.

Yohn and Rager said in the future, they'd like to mobilize the business and serve at events, such as weddings and company picnics.

Yohn added that another future goal includes opening a second location.

For more information, call 447-0227.