Jim's Ice Cream Barn (Salem NH)

This last day before they closed (What a shame, especially since across the street, Jay Gee's ice cream is staying open till December), I decided to squeeze some time in for a swirl at this so-called "barn", and have a try at their ice cream.  This doesn't look like a barn at all, but actually a building, despite calling this a "barn", where it's more like a yellow building with a wierd looking diagnal thing on it, from the ice cream entrance to another store on the upper floor.

Now, I would call this a "yellow house", so Jim could rename this to the "Jim's Yellow Ice Cream House", and this would be more of an appropriate thing, since it's a yellow house.  However, I do say that this yellow house fits in with the ice cream theme, and does makes an apperence.  The inside does have it's yellow chairs and tables, which quite interestly, matched the color of WeAllScreamForIceCream's ice cream, which his was a coffee cake ice cream.  My ice cream was a large sundae with three scoops of ice cream, with black magic cheesecake, dinosaur crunch, and peanut butter fudge.  The ice cream was good, though more like Jay Gee's, as it's not as good as Kimball's ice cream.  Speaking of flavers, they were out of half of them as they were taped off by blue tape.

The dinosaur crunch had a blue vanilla flaver in it, with chocolate crunch piece in it, while the peanut butter fudge was self explanitory.  The black magic cheesecake was a cheesecake based ice cream with cookie swirls in it.

Now, I also talked to Jim about the situation since Jay Gee's ice cream went in business actoss the street, and they said that it didn't effect him as of yet.  However, I feel that this may not be the case within a year or two, when new people that come into Salem, NH, and may more likely stop at Jay Gee's then Jim's ice cream barn at the place, simply because this would be the first thing they see as they drive up route 28, which is a more major road, and that this ice cream barn would be more hidden from view, unless they drive up this road that leads up to the barn.

Furthermore, some people may be swayed to try out the other ice cream place after they come out, because every time they leave Jim's ice cream barn, they can see Jay Gee's" ice cream on their way out.  Furthermore, because Jay Gee's across the street would continue to sell ice cream, Jim may change it's mind if Jim see's Jay Gee's ice cream continue to sell ice cream very well while his ice cream place is closed during October, November, and December.  That's three months's worth of lost potential.

Yup, that's Jay Gee's ice cream right from the view facing away from Jim's ice cream place, clearly visible just behind the gas station, potentially making Jim embarrest after he sees that ice cream place open while his ice cream closed in the fall.  I'm not sure why Jim decided to close this place down this early, but that was a really bad idea of doing so.  Maybe Jim may keep this place open till December next year once he realized that ice cream is still sellable during the winter months.

As far as Kimball's farm is concerned, Yes, one of the employees there tried to convince Peter and Mike Kimball to sell ice cream during the winter, but I say, keep buzzing Mike and Peter to continue ice cream service throughout the winter.  Maybe they will learn if Jay Gee's extended ice cream season is successful.

Jim's Ice Cream barn is open from April till September.

BREAKING NEWS: Jay Gee's to extend the ice cream until December

(At least in the Salem, NH location)

A sign that may convince others to extend the ice cream season till later, and to reinforce my demand on Kimball Farm to sell ice cream year round, Jay Gee's has announced that they are keeping the Salem, NH store open till after Thanksgiving weekend.

According to facebook page, Jay Gee's states this message:
"5 short weeks and our Methuen store will close to complete our 30th season, however our SALEM NH store will stay open until closer to christmas!!
BE SURE TO VISIT US THERE!!" at the Facebook page.

Now, if you look at the Jay Gee's NH location, it's clearly an ice cream window service.  Now, they are still a season, but now they don't close till DECEMBER!  Now, if Kimball's start to consider extending their ice cream, that place will be more of a hit, as well as creating new oppertunities, and new ideas as far as flavers.

Now, I think that if Kimball takes note of this, then perhaps they COULD at least extend the ice cream season for another month or two, if Jay Gee's extended season goes well.

However, for now, the Methuin area will still close down on October 30th.  But Jay Gee's could extend the ice cream for that area if the Salem extension proves successful.

Tips on Stocking up for the winter

Now we are heading the end of september and into october, ice cream stands are starting to close down.  Now, the first tip that I covered is that on some ice cream stands they just simply get their ice cream from another place.  Of the five places, Rota Springs, Richardsons, Kimballs, Jay Gee's, and Bedford Farms, the most definite place to stock up is Kimballs and Jay Gee's, simply because they close earlier then other places, while Richardson's and Bedford Farms are open basically year round.  So, before you stock up on your favorite flavers to get you through the winter, do some research and make sure that your ice cream stand makes the ice cream on the premise, or it is made from the same company.

So, here's a few tips when it comes to stocking up.

For more popular flavers that are seasonal, stock those up about a week or two prior to closing.  Ice cream can last for months in the freezer, so there's no waiting till the last minute before you stock.  Some places have sales on the last day, but chances are, you will not find the flaver you want.  So, it still be on the safe side to stock up about a week or so prior.  As far as pumpkin and gingersnap molassis from Kimballs, I already stocked up on them.  Hopefully, they will have indian pudding one more time before they shutter for the season.

Always ask the people in there to not overflow the containers.  Chances are, the ice cream will melt over, and as a result, a mess that took me lots of times and a lot of paper towels and water to clean up.  Make sure that they are able to snugly put the lid on the containers before you go.

It's Time for Kimball Farm to start year-round ice cream serving.

OK.  Only a week and a half before they shutter the ice cream stand down for the winter, or at least stop producing ice cream.  I've been there in September, and noticed that there were still long lines at the stand.  But soon, it will turn october, and come Columbus Day, they will stop producing ice cream, close down the Lancaster, Carlisle, and Jaffery locations, and sell out and eventually close down the stand in Westford.

I understand the Bates farm in Carlisle, since that place is an ice cream stand-only place, and the window service at Westford.  But here's the problem.

The country store at the Westford Location (and Lancaster) is a sandwich cafe selling coffee, sandwiches and some more stuff, and tables inside for you to eat your food at.  Now, if Kimball makes their own ice cream in the back room, and if there's a cafe in the country store, then why don't they continue to make ice cream (but on a lower scale, and serve it in the country store once the weather gets too cold for window service?)  Now they do continue to sell half gallons for a while, but why don't they just open these boxes and sell the customers a sundae indoors?  Certainly, after my horse ride, I would like to go in the country store cafe and have a nice brownie sundae with cookies and cream ice cream there.

To take into further route, the weather is still perfect in october into early november to have window service.  It doesn't have to be every day, maybe do window service on Friday Afternoons, Saturdays, and Sundays, but still serve ice cream inside during the weekdays.  Not to mention that the Silo saying: "KIMBALL FARM ICE CREAM" mocks me every time I go to the country store and they don't sell sundaes in there in the cafe.

Now, let's compare the closings to other places.  Rota Springs Farms IS seasonal, but they don't close until the second weekend of NOVEMBER!  Richards ice cream is open year round, in both locations.  They only time they close during the winter is Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Bedford Farms is open year round.

So, if Kimball Farms has a cafe in the country store that's open year round, and they produce ice cream on the premise, and they sell ice cream very well on Columbus Day weekend, then they SHOULD think about continue to sell ice cream throughout the winter.

My flavers would be the basic five flavers (Choc, Strawberry, Vanilla, Coffee, Black Raspberry), top five other flavers on the regular menu, rotate three other flavers, and serve seasonal/specialty three other flavers.  If other places are serving ice cream very well like Bedford and Richardson's beyond Columbus Day, then Kinballs could make a ton more money selling ice cream in the winter.

And yea, I checked the facebook page, and I'm not alone.  People miss the ice cream, especially those who haven't stocked up yet.

So, for Kimball Fans out there, here's what you can do to get Kimball to start selling ice cream in the Winter:

1) Go to the country store and ask how you can give Kimball suggestins on what they do.
2) Suggest Kimball DEMANDING them to try to sell ice cream in the country store during the winter (or if the weather's good, do window service)
3) As for right now, stock up.  I suggest stocking up about a week before they close, to have more of a chance to get the flavers you want.
4) After the season's over, keep petitioning for year round ice cream service!

And as for me, this is how I feel after they stop selling Ice Cream.

So, all I have to say is: Petition, Enjoy the last few days, and STOCK UP!

Canterbury Kitchen

Located in King Richard's and Queen Ann's Faire, this ice cream place doesn't serve much, just chocolate and vanilla ice cream, and a few variations of sundaes, which is Royal Sundae, and the Brownie Sundae.  Next window, however, is an apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.

It's two windows, next to each other, with the left one serving ice cream cones and sundaes, and the right one serving slushies.  The ice cream is soft serve, with two Taylor machines basically only serving chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

The Sunday I ordered was a brownie sundae with a twist and some toppings and cool whip.  It costs about 15 tickets (Yea, you have to buy food tickets at this place to get the food here.)

Well, it's just a short review, since that's basically just faire food here.  Well, anyways, enjoy your stay at King Richard's (and Queen Ann's) Faire!

The Ice Cream Lady - Douglas MA

Located at The Family Convenience Center next to the convenience store with a gas station and a Dunkin Donuts, the No-name Ice Cream Store in Douglas, MA is what I call, Ice Cream Lady, simply because of the statue when I drive to Douglas State Forest.  Not that this place isn't my best, but that it's just that, a statue figure when I go down there.

I mentiened this place briefly, simply because I just skipped out on the ice cream because I went to Rota Springs instead.  But thanks to this place closing down for the season this weekend, I went to order a Sundae.

The menu is that.  24 flavors of hard scooped ice cream (Black Raspberry, Butter Pecan, Bubble Gum, Cake Batter, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Coffee, Coffee Kahula Brownie, Cookie Dough, Cotton Candy, Death By Chocolate, Maple Walnut, Milky Way, Mint Chocolate Chip, Mocha Chip, Moose Tracks, Peppermint Stick, Pistachio, Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Rum Raisin, Strawberry, Strawberry Cheesecake, Vanilla), Low-fat options (Black Raspberry, Coffee, Purple Cow), an Oreo Yogurt, an orange or watermellon sherbert, and just two soft serve choc-vanilla flavers.  Furthermore, these ice creams comes from Richardsons, so this place closing down isn't a big deal for me.  So, the pints and quarts of ice cream is just for convenience type thing if you want to get some ice cream.  Otherwise, you may find an ice cream place around here that could be open year round.  So unless you can't drive far, and unable to reach Richardson's ice cream in Middleborough, this place closing down isn't that big of a deal.  Now, if someone else takes over this place, and actually MAKES ice cream here, then it would be a big deal.

Anyways, I ordered a brownie sundae with Death By Chocolate, Cake Batter, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.  The brownie sundae wan't anything too fancy, and the place called Rota Springs had a better sundae there, though, you are restricted to two flavers.

Well, if you are feeling about this place, then maybe one day, you can take over, and start serving ice cream year round.  Oh, Yea, You can order Ice Cream from the inside too.  So to have this end SO early in September is no excuse.  Just close the window, but don't close the business down as a hole.

To Stock up or not to stock up. What's the best choice?

Let's face it.  We are nearing the end of september, and ice cream places are starting to close for the season.  The good new is, unless the ice cream stand is going out of business and the most dreaded words are: "Once this season's over, we may never sell ice cream again", the ice cream stands open in the end of winter to mid spring, some late spring.

So, during the week before they close, the decision, if you have multiple favorites, like me, who has Kimballs, Bedfords, Rota Springs, Jay Gee's, and Great Brook Farms; is, should you stock up on that place, or not.  The decision depends on the following:

-The Ice cream at the place is made on the premise or is a small chain and where the ice cream came from is not far from here and is from the same company.
-The source of the ice cream is seasonal.
-The cows the cream they got it from is either raised themselves, or raised from a local dairy farm.

Now, the run down.  On my choice on the following ice cream stands: should you stock up?

BEDFORD FARMS: No.  Although the bedford store is season, the concord is open year round.
(UPDATE: Bedford shop is now open year round)
KIMBALL FARMS: Yes*.  They close in october, though, in a select few flavers, they serve half gallons through January.  However, I would play it safe and stock up on your favorite flaver.
ROTA SPRINGS FARM: Yes.
GREAT BROOK FARM: No.  Their ice cream comes from Bliss Bros. Dairy.
SPRINKLES: No.  They are open year round, and their ice cream comes from Richardsons.
MAD WILLIE'S: No.  They are open year round, and their ice cream comes from Richardsons.
RICHARDSONS: No.  They are open year round.
MAD MAGGIE'S: No*.  They are open year round, though, closed on weekdays in the winter.
TROMBETTA'S Farm: No*.  They are open year round, though, closed on weekdays in the winter.
JAY GEE'S: No*.  An update now is that Jay Gee's ice cream in Salem is now year round.

Well. that's my list of places and my suggestions on whether you should stock up.

Oh, remember, if it's hand packed, be sure to tell them not to overflow it past the brim, because some time they did and it made a hell of a mess.