If you’ve ever walked past an Ample Hills Creamery and wondered whether you could actually walk in, the answer is now yes. The beloved Brooklyn-born ice cream chain — known for its playful, story-driven flavors and loyal neighborhood following — is operating under kosher certification, with multiple locations in New York confirmed under National Kosher Supervision (NKS).
A Brooklyn Ice Cream Institution, Now Kosher Certified
Ample Hills has had a winding road over the past several years. The company was founded in 2010 by husband-and-wife team Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna, launching as a pushcart before opening their first Prospect Heights scoop shop in 2011. After rapid expansion, a bankruptcy filing, a sale, and then a buyback by the original founders in 2023, the brand is back and very much open for business. Now there’s a kosher angle worth knowing about.
National Kosher Supervision, the certifying agency behind the hashgacha at these locations, has confirmed the certification across the current Ample Hills footprint in New York. The post from NKS specifically calls out five locations: two in Brooklyn, one in Astoria, one on the Upper West Side, and one at the Industry City complex in Sunset Park.
What to Expect Inside
Ample Hills is a dairy ice cream shop, so this is a pareve-free zone — think rich, creamy scoops made from scratch with flavors that lean heavily into the quirky and nostalgic. Signature items include Chocolate Milk & Cookies, a sweet cream base loaded with chocolate sandwich cookies (you can see it front and center in their certification announcement), along with other rotating and seasonal flavors. The vibe is casual and family-friendly, with a strong neighborhood identity at each location.
The Prospect Heights flagship is where the brand started, and it’s the spiritual home of the whole operation. The Astoria location on 30th Avenue has long been a go-to for the Queens kosher community. The Upper West Side spot on Amsterdam Avenue sits right in one of Manhattan’s most densely Jewish neighborhoods. And the Industry City location, tucked into the Sunset Park waterfront complex, gives Boro Park and the surrounding Brooklyn communities a convenient option.
Cholov Yisroel Status
NKS’s announcement does not specify cholov yisroel supervision. Consumers who require cholov yisroel should verify directly with the agency or the individual location before ordering. We assume these products are not CY.
Certified Locations
All five locations operate under Rabbi Mehlman: National Kosher Supervision (NKS):
- Prospect Heights, Brooklyn: 623 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238
- Washington Avenue, Brooklyn: 816 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238
- Astoria, Queens: 34-02 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103
- Upper West Side, Manhattan: 526 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10024
- Industry City, Brooklyn: 14 53rd Street, Suite 209S, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Hours vary by location. Kosher certification is under National Kosher Supervision (NKS). Consumers should verify hours and cholov yisroel status directly with each location.
Looking for kosher restaurants and shops near you? Download the KosherNearMe app at YeahThatsKosher.com/app.
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