On episode four of "Black Owned Bites" it's all about taking treats to the next level at Mikey Likes It Ice Cream! I rolled through 199 Avenue A in the East Village to meet the man who is a staple in the neighborhood. Mikey could be considered the OG of the ice cream game, he IS the #LeaderOfTheNewScoop and the patrons of this ice cream shop would agree, he knows most of them & they know him!
Known for it's organic & creative flavors (all of which are the brain children of Mikey himself) and the brand's connection to the city and pop culture, Mikey Likes It has some of the BEST ice cream treats I've tasted. When he's not in the city behind the wheel of his iconic ice cream truck, you can catch him in the shop letting you know the stories behind the flavors like, the Mac Daddy & Daddy Mac (a play off of the 90's hip hop duo Kris Kross), the Pink Floyd and Foxy Brown. Each flavor tells a tale that instantly lets us 90s babies relive our childhood, and when the creations hit our tongue you smile like you were a kid again.
I stole a few minutes with the man himself to learn about the importance of expanding the brand and establishing collabs with The New York Red Bulls of the MLS and New Era and DKNY to name a few. How authenticity is key to success and longevity, and what it means to be a thriving Black-owned business in the community where he was born and raised.
TAKE A LOOK AT EPISODE 4 OF BLACK OWNED BITES BELOW:
Just as iconic as the NY slice of pizza, a scoop of Mikey Likes It ice cream is something that is 100% necessary. I'm gonna make sure we get that exclusive Maxwell flavor on the menu...but till that happens, you MUST swing through or find out where the ice cream truck is stopping next!