Showing posts with label Mikey Likes It Ice Cream. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mikey Likes It Ice Cream. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

From Mikey's to Smileys on Avenue A

Signage is up for Smileys, a "wellness shop," at 199 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

The business logo is of a smiley face with marijuana leaves for eyes (see the brand's Instagram account) ... presumably another unlicensed weed-related shop. 

Until early November, this storefront had been home to Mikey Likes It Ice Cream for nearly nine years. Founder Michael "Mikey" Cole announced that his company was undergoing a reorganization and that they would reopen a new flagship location elsewhere in 2023. 

In an Instagram post, Cole stated that the Avenue A store closed following the constant "day-to-day battle and hardship" during the pandemic. 

In other storefront news here, the psychic is no longer in the space next door (though the awning remains)...

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Citing a reorganization, Mikey Likes It Ice Cream closes Avenue A location

As part of a brand reorganization, the Mikey Likes It Ice Cream outpost is now permanently closed at 199 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

Founder Michael "Mikey" Cole and his team made the announcement in an Instagram post ... with word of a new flagship store coming in the spring...
To all of our fans and supporters, we are so happy and excited to announce that Mikey Likes It Ice Cream is currently reorganizing the company to expand our products and services to the global market. Also, during this transition, we will be opening new locations, and our new Mikey Likes It Ice cream Flagship store in the spring of 2023.
The post stated that the Avenue A store closed following the constant "day-to-day battle and hardship" during the pandemic. 
We were just not able to recover fast enough and come to terms with our current landlord. Although we greatly appreciate the efforts to accommodate our needs, we understand how the pandemic itself hurt all business owners.
Although a bittersweet moment, we are very grateful for what this store has given us as a family. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to meet so many people from various walks of life and have been able to create friendships that we would’ve never had without having this store. 

We have become a staple in the community and have enjoyed watching the children of the community come to the store as children and grow into mature, responsible adults. From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank all of our customers and staff that have been loyal to Mikey Likes It Ice Cream over the years. 
Cole started the business from his parent's Stuy Town apartment, where he grew up. He later opened his first outpost here on Avenue A in 2013 and expanded to Harlem. You can read our 2013 interview with Cole here.

Ice cream aside, we enjoyed the changing artwork on the rolldown gate in the first few years ... where Andre Trenier created one of his 1980s-inspired murals corresponding with the shop's flavor of the month... favorites included Grace Jones... Teen Wolf ... Tootie from "Facts of Life" and ... Prince

Until a new outpost opens, you can still find Mikey's products for delivery online.

Image from the summer via @mikeylikesiticecream 

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Sen. Hoylman honors local businesses for service during the pandemic, including Mikey Likes It

Sen. Brad Hoylman presented three downtown merchants, including Mikey Likes It Ice Cream at 199 Avenue A, with the Empire Award — the New York State Senate's highest award for local businesses.

The 183-year-old C.O Bigelow Chemists on Sixth Avenue near Eighth Street and Madman Espresso on University Place were the other two recipients. 

Hoylman is honoring these three businesses for their distinguished service and community involvement during the pandemic.

"One of the main pillars of my business is giving back to the community and being a positive example to the people who we serve," Michael "Mikey" Cole said in a prepared statement. "I grew up a few blocks from my first shop ... and I always wanted to find a way to reinvest into it and make a positive impact."

During the pandemic, Cole has volunteered to help neighbors in need on the Lower East Side and in Harlem, where his second shop is located.

Hoylman's office is asking for people to nominate other restaurants and small businesses that helped support New Yorkers during the pandemic. If one wants to nominate a business, then they should email hoylman@senate.gov with "Empire Award Nomination" in the subject line.