The North Shore has plenty of ice cream shops, but Sweet Charlie’s, which opened about a month ago on Hillside Avenue in New Hyde Park, has brought a new method of ice cream preparation: rolled ice cream.
According to the Philadelphia-based franchise’s website, the method is of Thai origin. Liquid ice cream is placed on a cold surface and solidifies while the customer watches, then is rolled into a log shape and served with toppings.
The owner of the New Hyde Park location, Hiren Shah, said he originally tried to open earlier in the year, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed that because building inspections were called off for a time. Shah said he was just glad to be able to open with a bit of summer left to go.
Still, he said, the pandemic has had some effect on the business. The shop follows C.D.C. guidelines with six feet between customers and masks on while in the store.
Shah came to the area from India about three years ago. He said he has been in the service industry for almost 25 years.
“I’m a food guy and I love to cook at home and cook for my community,” Shah said.
Shah said his location, located next to Bow Tie Cinema and across from Herrill Lanes bowling alley, was desirable. It is also close to Herricks High School, from which the store draws many part-time employees.
The store currently does not have indoor seating but has plans to install some when the pandemic is under control.
On top of rolled ice cream, the menu includes Belgian waffles and cookies. The store has options that are vegan and fat-free. The franchise’s flagship menu item is the “Tall Charlie,” an ice cream hot dog of sorts in which an ice cream roll is placed
between a glazed doughnut with toppings on it.
