Armstrong Ice Cream is a family owned and operated business on St. Croix that has been around for 122 years and counting. The earliest record of Armstrong Ice Cream dates back to 1900 when the family matriarch, Minerva Petersen, would push a wooden cart down King Street in Frederiksted selling cool, creamy treats. Using an old homemade Danish recipe, it’s no surprise when Danish visitors to the island get an instant rush of nostalgia. With just one taste, they are immediately reminded of their childhood days in Denmark. This third-generation ice cream purveyor is currently operated by Cedric Armstrong who took over the business from his father, Ivan, in 1991. “I’m proud to carry on the family tradition,” said Cedric. “Ice cream is what we’re known for.”
What started in a wooden cart transferred to a bicycle until the early 1960s when Ivan bought his first car. A 1955 Chevrolet is where he sold ice cream from the trunk at events of all sizes. After meeting his wife Irenia at a dance, the Armstrong family bought a house in 1963 where they set up a makeshift shop selling their old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream from their home. In 1970, Ivan purchased an electric powered batch freezer to aid in producing more ice cream in less time to meet demand. They also purchased a truck and sold their ice cream every Saturday under the large mahogany tree at the curve in Queen Mary Highway where Sunny Isles Shopping Center is today. You can still find the truck in the same spot most Saturdays selling their famous ice cream flavors. In May 1996, they opened their storefront in Estate Whim and added a deli component that serves burgers, grilled sandwiches, wraps and breakfast items like pancakes, eggs, French toast, bacon and more.
Many wonder what makes Armstrong’s Ice Cream unique. “The special homemade custard base is what makes our ice cream creamy and flavorful,” said Cedric. Additionally, their natural flavors are made with ingredients found on St. Croix. If it grows on the island, you will most likely find it in ice cream form at Armstrong’s. While some flavors can be found almost anywhere else in the world, their seasonal flavors are what sets them apart from ice cream shops around the world. Gooseberry, their best-selling flavor, is made with a small tart fruit typically made into a sweet, decadent stew. Mango, guava, soursop, pumpkin, passion fruit and guavaberry are their seasonal flavors that customers patiently wait for each year. Other popular flavors such as almond, banana, peanut, ginger nut and coconut are more readily available year-round. Visit Armstrong Ice Cream at 78-B Whim in Frederiksted on Centerline Road. They are open from 7am to 7pm Tuesday to Friday, 8am to 7pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday. On Saturdays, you can find them in the Sunny Isles Shopping Center from 1pm to 5pm, or until supplies last.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Photo from Armstrong Ice Cream
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