Madeira Beach, FL — Nestled in a strip mall just a block away from Madeira Beach, The Amish Creamery Company has earned a reputation for serving the “best sweets on the beach.” For owner Clint Herlein, this title is a point of pride—and one he’s worked tirelessly to uphold since opening the shop nine years ago.
“Our ice cream has the highest percentage of butterfat, making it incredibly creamy,” Herlein explained. “No one else on the beach uses this type of cream in their ice cream.”
The Amish Creamery is part of Herlein’s family-owned network of Amish dessert and grocery businesses across Tampa Bay, with its headquarters based in Sarasota. However, like many local businesses in Madeira Beach, the creamery faced significant challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
“It took us about seven weeks to clean up,” Herlein recalled. “We had to install a new floor, and it was a lot of hard work. I don’t want to go through that again, but we’re still here.”
Despite the setbacks, Herlein remains determined to keep his business running. Currently, he is managing the shop with minimal staff, often working seven days a week. “I did hire my girls back for this weekend, so I finally got some time off,” he said.
Business has been slow, with Herlein noting that he’s lucky to see one or two customers a day. However, a recent boost came from an unexpected source. “A customer named Theresa Sandy posted something about us on Facebook,” he shared. While the shop is still far from bustling, the online shoutout has brought in a few more customers, giving Herlein a glimmer of hope.
Through it all, Herlein has maintained a positive outlook. “It’s something you live with,” he said. “With my years of experience, you learn not to worry too much. You just keep going and work around the challenges.”
The Amish Creamery remains open seven days a week, and Herlein is optimistic about the future. He hopes to rehire his full team once business picks up again. For now, he continues to serve his creamy, butterfat-rich ice cream to loyal customers and newcomers alike, proving that resilience and dedication can keep even the smallest businesses afloat.
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