ANTWERP — What began as a casual conversation between husband and wife has grown into one of downtown Antwerp’s favorite gathering places.
When Christy Phillips learned that KB Scoops was for sale, she mentioned it to her husband, Dave. Before long, the couple found themselves embarking on an unexpected business adventure that would allow them to preserve a beloved community destination while adding their own personal touch.
Today, Main Street Creamery & Cafe continues to delight customers with premium ice cream, specialty sundaes and the welcoming atmosphere that has become its trademark.
“We are an ice cream shop on Main Street with specialty ice cream,” Phillips explained. “We offer small-batch ice cream that I think is pretty special. We have specialty sundaes, and we love to tweak whatever ice cream or sundae you have to your taste. We offer all of that with a smile, friendliness and hometown care.”
The business traces its roots to KB Scoops, which was established approximately six years ago by Matt and Kara Eicher. The building itself has a long history in Antwerp and has served many purposes over the years, including reportedly housing an IGA grocery store, restaurants and other businesses.
“We loved what Matt and Kara had created,” Phillips said. “We always took our friends and family there when they visited from out of state. We didn’t want it to disappear from the community. We wanted it to stay here in some capacity.”
The Phillips family purchased both the business and the historic building, which also contains a spacious upstairs apartment occupied by longtime tenants.
One of the things that sets Main Street Creamery & Cafe apart is its commitment to quality. About half of the shop’s ice cream comes from Sally’s by the Shore, a small-batch ice cream maker that creates flavors specifically for the store. The remainder comes from Guernsey Farms Dairy, a family-owned Michigan dairy known for its premium products.
Among the customer favorites is Grandpa’s Blueberry Pie, a flavor inspired by the dairy owner’s grandfather and his 100th birthday celebration.
“We feel like we’re offering high-quality ice cream,” Phillips said. “We also have a cold stone, so we can do lots of mix-ins and customize things however customers want.”
While the ice cream is a major draw, Phillips believes the atmosphere plays an equally important role.
“We’ve created a place where people can come and visit,” she said. “You might meet a family member, a neighbor or someone you haven’t seen in a while. It really has become a community place.”
That sense of community is reflected in the shop’s name. When the Phillips family took ownership, they changed the name to Main Street Creamery & Cafe to better represent the business’s role in the heart of Antwerp.
“We wanted to embody that small-town feeling,” Phillips said. “People have been very welcoming to us and to our business. I’m not originally from Antwerp, but my husband grew up here and we live on his family’s farm. Owning the shop has really allowed me to get to know people and feel like part of the community.”
Customers return for more than just ice cream. Phillips credits the shop’s success to consistent quality, fair prices, friendly service and a willingness to constantly introduce new flavors and offerings.
“We’re pretty generous with samples,” she laughed. “If we hear you ask about a flavor, we’re probably going to ask if you’d like to try it.”
The shop frequently rotates flavors, encouraging customers to discover new favorites while still maintaining popular staples.
Another hallmark of Main Street Creamery & Cafe is its homemade waffle cones. Phillips and her staff make them in-house, a labor-intensive process she believes is worth the effort.
This year, the shop added chocolate-dipped waffle cones and expanded its topping selection to include fresh strawberries, raspberries and customer-requested favorites like Captain Crunch cereal.
“We want to keep evolving and adding things,” Phillips said. “If something works, we’ll keep it. If it doesn’t, we’ll adjust. We’re always looking for ways to improve.”
Among the most cherished traditions carried over from previous generations of Antwerp ice cream shops is the inclusion of candy eyes and sprinkles.
A longtime customer reminded Phillips before opening that “you always have to have eyes and sprinkles.”
At first, she thought the tradition originated with KB Scoops. Later, she learned it dated back even further to the depot ice cream shop that many longtime residents remember fondly.
Today, it remains a favorite among young customers.
“Some kids come in and just order ‘eyes and sprinkles’ and forget to tell us what flavor ice cream they want,” Phillips said with a smile. “We know they’re important.”
Looking ahead, Main Street Creamery & Cafe has plans to continue growing. Phillips hopes to expand the cafe portion of the business with soups, salads and sandwiches while maintaining the quality and atmosphere customers have come to love.
Most of all, she hopes the shop continues to reflect the values of the community it serves.
“I love our little small town,” Phillips said. “I want Antwerp to grow in a responsible way, and I hope people feel that sense of community when they come in here.”
For Phillips, success isn’t measured solely by the ice cream sold, but by the connections made across the counter every day — one scoop, one smile and one conversation at a time.