LONGMEADOW – Batch Ice Cream is opening their first ever brick and mortar location at the Longmeadow Shops. Filling the space left by Great Harvest, Batch will be in the Shops from Oct. 15 through Feb. 2021.

Owners Dave and Deb LeRiche said, “It gives all of us an opportunity to have Batch Ice Cream there seven days a week and for us to really expand what we do on the scoop truck.”

Batch makes authentic pints of ice cream with fresh and local ingredients, showcasing jam-packed flavors such as brown sugar bourbon and pecan, caramelized banana and walnut and dark chocolate, Mexican chile and roasted almonds, as well as salted caramel, ginger, green tea and mocha chip.

Though excited for this new endeavor, Dave and Deb admitted they’ve never run a scoop shop before.

As they jokingly responded, “With all of the equipment coming in, we have to figure out how to use them quickly. Then we have to teach people how to operate them the way that we want to the highest of standards and connecting with every customer.”

Batch Ice Cream was created in 2009 by Susie Parish and Veronica Janssens. They grew a loyal following in Jamaica Plains and intended to take Batch to the farmer’s market, and more specifically, the Big E (Eastern States Exposition).

Prior to Batch, Deb has been a registered nurse since 1987. She still works at Baystate Medical Center in the Daly Post Anesthesia Care Unit.

Dave worked at Frito-Lay for 18 years doing distributing, account calls, account development and direct store distribution. Then he spent six years at Synders-Lance as director of sales responsible for distribution throughout Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

The pair had just met two years before purchasing the business. They got married in April 2018 and bought the business in May of that year.

Dave and Deb longed to venture together in a business of their own. They tried everything from energy drinks to a pickle and relish company. They heard about an artisan ice cream company up for sale in the Boston area and inquired about it seven months later. After speaking with the owners and the broker, the duo bought as many flavors of Batch Ice Cream they could find.

“We were blown away from the first bite of the first flavor,” the duo joyfully said. “We started with vanilla. The first taste was ‘oh my goodness this is different!’ Each flavor was the same reaction. It’s just so clean and simple, but delicious.”

From that day, Dave and Deb decided Batch Ice Cream was their new venture.

"Susie and Veronica were great in transitioning over the business to us,” Deb replied. “They helped us understand the process. What makes Batch different from what’s available at grocery stores or other premium ice creams and the quality that goes into the ingredients.” Dave said, “They said they wanted to watch their baby grow and develop.”

When they purchased the company, Dave and Deb’s goal was to have Batch across all of Massachusetts and the rest of New England.

They strongly expressed how hard they worked to expand the distribution. They brought two scoop trucks in circulation, opened a distribution business and started distributing their own pints when their distributor went out of business last year. With their distribution, Batch has expanded throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island.

For a year and a half, Dave and Deb had been working with Longmeadow Shops marketing manager Melissa Pevay and regional property manager Steve Walker. Pevay and Walker wanted to have premium ice cream at the Shops. They reached out to Dave and Deb and invited them to bring their scoop truck to the Shops on Tuesday afternoons.

“We had a wonderful following of people coming regularly every Tuesday,” Dave told Reminder Publishing. “We were asked several times if we can come more, is there an opportunity to come additional times by the customers.”

Deb added, “The town has been so amazing to us. Many people have said Tuesdays is their favorite day of the week. Especially during these strange pandemic times that they have very few options that feel normal to them.”

Pevay mentioned an opening in one of the locations at the Shops and asked the couple if they were interested in a pop up.

As they move forward, Dave and Deb will be experimenting with new ice cream flavors. They’ll be offering premium sorbet and hot fudge, homemade whipped cream and a non-dairy option.

Based on how this pop up goes, Dave and Deb would love for the scoop shop to transition to full-time.

“We’re very blessed and thankful for the growth that we’ve had,”  Dave responded. Deb concluded, “The community of Longmeadow can expect the same friendly welcoming experience that they had at the truck and a little extra.”