Made in The Bronx: A state-of-the-art ice cream factory in the heart of Hunts Point
What began as a brick-and-mortar shop in Manhattan has grown to become a national seller known as "A La Mode."
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Marc Roth and his wife Sandy's dream to open an ice cream shop became a reality when they opened their first "A La Mode" location on 55th Avenue and 1st Street. Their mission was to make sweet treats that were allergy-friendly.
"Something available for everybody!" said co-owner Roth.
Roth said there was one viral post on social media and business took off. The husband and wife duo opened more locations, including East Hampton and Graceland. Roth said the demand overpowered their ability to create, so they expanded.
"We had no choice but to start growing our space. We started looking around in the Bronx. This was the perfect space and the perfect opportunity," said Roth.
The "A La Mode" factory is located on Edgewater Road in the heart of Hunts Point. The state-of-the-art facility makes more than 20 flavors of ice cream from scratch. The facility is able to produce up to 20,000 cups of ice cream in one day.
With a team of up to 15 people on site, Roth said his team has been able to expand their outreach further. The manufacturer now ships its product nationally.
"We're nationwide! We're working in a couple of different distribution centers across the country, which is amazing," said Roth.
The ice cream is now sold locally at Stop & Shop and online at Walmart. Roth said "A La Mode" has branched out into special school events, sleep-away camps and programming in local hospitals.
Roth credits his success to his family, hardworking staff and connection with the surrounding communities.
