This Family Loved A Cranford Ice Cream Shop So Much, They Bought It

CRANFORD, NJ — For years, a trip to their neighborhood ice cream shop was simply part of family life for Mike and Sherri Bogdan.

After moving to Cranford in 2014, the couple regularly visited Cranford Vanilla Bean Creamery with their two daughters, making it one of their favorite family traditions. So when they learned the business was for sale, they saw more than a chance to own an ice cream shop.

Subscribe

They saw an opportunity to preserve a place that had already become part of their family's story.

Now in their third season as owners, the Bogdans are carrying on a tradition that has been part of the Cranford community since the shop first opened in 2010.

"It wasn't just a business that we were purchasing," owner Sherri Bogdan said. "It was already a special part of our family's life, and we were excited to continue its tradition while serving the community we call home."

Ahead of National Ice Cream Day on Sunday, Bogdan reflected on what has made the shop such a meaningful place for both her family and the community.

The Bogdans have continued making the homemade ice cream longtime customers have come to expect while introducing seasonal and limited-time flavors throughout the year.

Among the customer favorites is Honey Butter Cornbread, made with homemade cornbread from J. Bones Barbecue in Westfield, which is expected to return later this summer. Another popular flavor, Sticky Toffee Pudding, began as a winning entry in the Cranford Fund for Educational Excellence's annual trivia fundraiser, where the champion team earned the opportunity to create a custom ice cream flavor.

Bogdan said the community's support has exceeded anything she and her husband expected.

"The support we've received from Cranford and the surrounding communities has been nothing short of incredible," she said. "We often talk about how fortunate we feel to be part of such a welcoming and supportive town."

She said one of the most rewarding parts of owning the business has been watching families return year after year for birthdays, graduations and other celebrations.

"We're incredibly grateful for their continued loyalty," Bogdan said. "Knowing we've become a small part of so many special milestones is something we never take for granted."

For Bogdan, an ice cream shop offers something that's becoming harder to find.

"There's something timeless about an ice cream shop," she said. "In a world where everyone is constantly busy and connected to their phones, sharing ice cream naturally encourages people to slow down, sit together and enjoy each other's company."

She said some of her favorite moments are seeing grandparents introduce grandchildren to their favorite flavors, parents celebrating Little League victories and families stopping in after dinner simply to spend time together.

The shop has also become home to traditions of its own. Bogdan said one regular customer leaves a handwritten poem during many visits, and the staff has saved every one of them, displaying the collection in the back of the shop where the ice cream is made.

"One of the greatest joys of owning the Creamery is seeing the smile on a guest's face, whether they're five or eighty-five, after that first bite of ice cream," Bogdan said. "It's a simple moment, but one we get to experience every single day."

As National Ice Cream Day approaches, the Bogdans hope families continue making memories together at the same shop that first became part of their own family's tradition.