Handmade ice creams, fresh-baked cones, and jobs -- Furniture City Creamery aims for May opening

With the building permit finally on display and the sound of hammering not yet quieted, Matt and Rachel Franko are thrilled to be moving forward with the creation of their tiny storefront for Furniture City Creamery, 958 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids.

The cozy shop will offer 14 handcrafted ice creams, fresh-baked cones, and handmade toppings. Many of the ice creams and all of the cones and toppings are vegan-friendly. The store opening, tentatively set for Memorial Weekend, looms large as the married couple works to build a commercial kitchen, add a few seats, and create an ice cream-lovers paradise in the backdoor courtyard.

Amidst the dust and din, Rachel Franko says she's preparing to begin hiring for four full-time equivalent job positions (six to eight people) for front counter servers/cashiers, and kitchen assistants.

"For the kitchen assistants, we want someone with experience," Franko says. "The counter service people should have service experience. We're looking for college age or above, looking for people who are interested in what we're doing and in bringing our products to the public."

Franko, whose background is in industrial process development, says the culinary industry speaks a common language and sees the creamery jobs as a good crossover fit for college students studying science or chemistry. "They can see how it all works and how it comes together."

She sees opportunities and challenges ahead, all stemming from the intimate size of the creamery.

'The opportunity will be having the ability to interact with the community," she says. "We'll have a suggestion box where we can gather input from the community. The challenges might be keeping up production with the cones. We have a small kitchen and the cones take time to make, but we won't know until we get in there."

To apply for a job, contact Rachel at Furniture City Creamery.

Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of Furniture City Creamery

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