Cabarrus Creamery to reopen under new ownership, preserving a Concord tradition
After closing in December, the century-old ice cream shop will reopen Wednesday as longtime owners Beth and Hunter Huss pass the torch to Ashley Cline and Jeff Koenig.
After months of uncertainty, one of downtown Concord’s most beloved businesses is preparing to scoop ice cream once again.
The Cabarrus Creamery, a historic ice cream shop with roots dating back more than a century, will reopen Wednesday under new ownership after being closed since December.
Longtime owners Beth and Hunter Huss have sold the business at 21 Union St. S. to friends Ashley Cline and Jeff Koenig, ensuring that the downtown institution will continue serving the community.
For Cline and Koenig, the opportunity came unexpectedly.
The couple frequently visited the Creamery, often bringing along their two dogs for treats. Earlier this year, while having lunch with the Husses after church, they learned the business might not reopen.
At the time, Cline was looking for a new career opportunity. The conversation sparked an idea.
“I think organically the conversation kind of grew and Jeff and I decided that we were going to ask Hunter and Beth if they wanted to sell it,” Cline told The Cabarrus Compass during a recent interview with the two couples.
Shortly after, Cline approached Hunter in the parking lot of St. James Lutheran Church and asked whether he would consider selling the business.
“He was like, ‘Yes, that would be great,’” Cline recalled.
The Husses said they always hoped to see the Creamery continue, even as family health challenges made reopening increasingly difficult.
“This is a staple of Concord,” Beth said. “It’s been around since 1923. We’ve put our heart and soul into it for all these years, and we certainly didn’t want the business to just die.”
The Husses purchased the Creamery in 2003 and later relocated it to downtown Concord. Before that, it had been owned by the Burrage family and operated on Church Street for decades.
Neither Beth nor Hunter had any experience in the ice cream business when they took over, but they quickly learned as they went.
More than owners, Hunter said he and Beth viewed themselves as caretakers of a community institution.
“It wasn’t ever really ours,” he said. “We were just stewards of it.”
Owning the Creamery has meant a great deal to Beth and Hunter. The business helped put all three of their children through college and allowed them to watch generations of young people gain confidence and work experience in their first jobs behind the counter.
“It’s been fun. We’ve met so many nice people,” Beth said. “It’s been an honor to be able to do this for 23 years.”
Still, the past several years have not been easy. Beth said the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and the multi-year downtown Concord Streetscape project created significant challenges for the business.
Now, Beth and Hunter are focused on helping the Creamery’s next chapter succeed.
The couple has taken on the role of mentors and consultants, doing everything they can to prepare Cline, who will oversee the Creamery's day-to-day operations, and Koenig for ownership. That has included everything from sharing operational knowledge to teaching them the finer points of scooping ice cream.
Many of the employees who worked under the Husses are also expected to return.
“We want them to succeed,” Beth said.
Customers can expect the same flavors and traditions that have made the Creamery a local favorite, though Cline and Koenig said they have sourced organic cream with a 16% fat content, a change they believe will further enhance the quality of the ice cream.
“I plan to keep the tradition alive, so what you see is what you get,” Cline said.
One significant change may be on the horizon. Although the Creamery is reopening in its current downtown location, Cline and Koenig said they expect to relocate the business within the next six to nine months because of a change in ownership of the building. They have already begun searching for a new space.
For Cline, taking the reins of a business that has been part of Concord for more than a century is both an opportunity and a responsibility.
“I’m thankful to God and to this relationship that we have between Beth and Hunter,” he said. “That was, I think, meant to be.”
Cline is especially looking forward to meeting the longtime customers who have supported the Creamery over the years and built relationships with Beth and Hunter.
As for the pressure of taking over a business that has been part of Concord for more than a century?
“I think the pressure is going to be, am I making enough ice cream to keep up,” Cline said.
The Creamery will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will be closed Monday and Tuesday.
great news
I am so happy to hear this! Congratulations to all.
Sliced Lemon here I come!