The owner of Stuart's Ice Cream & Yogurt, a favorite seasonal ice cream and yogurt shop in Novi, is taking on a partner, expanding to a second location, and embarking on a whole new concept with the opening of a micro-creamery in downtown Northville.
Browndog Creamery & Dessert Bar has been in soft opening mode since Feb. 14, churning out classic and unusual flavors using Michigan-sourced milk and other local products. A grand opening of the business at 118 E. Main St. is set for March 6.
Browndog shares a space with longtime Northville candy shop Chocolates by Renee. Browndog will operate from a renovated space, making small batches of fresh ice cream and desserts year-round with ingredients grown or produced in Michigan whenever possible, says owner Paul Gabriel.
The Michigan focus will carry over to the sale of other products, including Michigan-made coffee and other beverages like
Faygo,
Nikki's Ginger Tea, and
Boxed Water.
Gabriel and partner Brian Scherle, the owner of
Stuart's Ice Cream & Yogurt in Novi, say Browndog is Northville's only micro-creamery and will complement the 20-plus restaurants and food shops located downtown.
"Stuart's is named after our first rescue dog," says Gabriel. "Browndog is named after our second rescue dog, Flash. He's brown." More of their story can be found on their
new website.
The owners support animal rescue organizations through donations of part of their profits. It's not unusual to see the dogs at the shops. They will both be on hand at the March 6 grand opening.
"We are thrilled to welcome Browndog Creamery & Dessert Bar to our collection of unique eateries in downtown Northville," says Lori Ward, director of the Northville Downtown Development Authority. "Their menu and mission is the perfect complement to the downtown's family of businesses."
Source: Paul Gabriel, owner, Browndog Creamery & Dessert Bar and Jeanne Micallef, IMJ Communications
Writer: Kim North Shine
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.