During the spring climate, the crowds return to Blank Slate Creamery in Ann Arbor

By Stone Andrews Last updated Mar 10, 2021

ANN ARBOR – Spring in Ann Arbor means tolerable temperatures, sunny skies and fresh ice cream scoops from a local favorite.

Blank Slate Creamery opened for the season on Wednesday March 2nd. According to operations manager Nate Nuttle, this was the largest opening day to date, when the socially distant line of customers stretched around the corner to the Circ Bar on First Street.

Customers can look through the windows while they wait while “scoopologists” pile up homemade waffle cones with familiar and eclectic flavors. Current offerings include Bananas Foster, Brandy Old Fashioned and London Fog.

The owners, including Nuttle and his mother Janice Sigler, were happy to do away with another type of cone – the building cone. The First Street project, which added a protected bike path between Kingsley and William, made roadside business difficult during the 2020 season, especially in the early days of the pandemic when customers were encouraged to order from their cars and purchase in the small store waiting parking lot.

Once the road works are complete, Nuttle says there are plans to expand the al fresco dining area and revamp the parking lot where customers wait for their orders.

As it stands, customers can place orders online for a sip of ice cream or walk to a window that once served as the store’s front door. Once they have placed their order, customers can wait in a designated area of the parking lot for their name to be revealed when their cups, cones and pup-sicles appear on two takeaway windows. Outdoor picnic tables and benches provide safe personal dining options.

Although the dairy typically starts the season with 32 flavors available, the warm weather and high demand mean certain short-term varieties sell out quickly – chocolate-coated strawberry was a particularly hot commodity. There is never too long a wait, although the line gets longest around 7pm

Customers can check availability and place an order for pints or scoops online at www.blankslatecreamery.com to be picked up at Ann Arbor at 300 W. Liberty St. or at their Brighton location which also has a takeaway window outdoor offers and was opened last July at 126 E. Grand River Road.