A summer in New England simply isn’t complete without several trips to a local ice cream shop. Few activities speak more quintessentially of summer than fighting off the heat with a hefty scoop of freshly churned frozen dairy.
Nearly every town in the granite state has a parlor that the community holds dear. Toward the end of 2019, Newmarket’s Bloomin’ Cow closed after seven years of business in the Newmarket Mills. The shop was beloved by many, and it’s closure meant the town was temporarily left without a go-to spot to beat the heat.
That all changed in May with the opening of Angelo’s Amore, an all-natural ice cream shop churning high quality flavors in the former Bloomin’ Cow space.
Owner and Founder Marc Flore discovered his fascination with ice cream about ten years ago upon receiving an ice cream maker for Christmas.
“I never intended to open an ice cream parlor back then. As I got better, people started to encourage me to sell it,” said Flore.
Years passed before Flore was able to capitalize on the success he had with friends and family. He became especially dedicated after nearly buying a parlor in Westbrook, Maine with a friend. From that point on, he yearned to open a place of his own.
After spending the summer of 2019 honing in on his ice cream-making skills in Portland, ME, he decided to start searching for his own place.
“I used to live in Newmarket; I went to UNH. When this place went up for sale…I came and met Dawn, who used to own the Bloomin’ Cow. We started talking and we realized it’d be a good fit,” said Flore.” “We shared a passion for ice cream and for making it.”
Flore projected to open on April 1st, but coronavirus suppressed those plans. After several weeks of statewide closures, Flore had a decision to make.
“I got to a point where it was like I either have to scrap this or I have to do it during a pandemic. That was a really tough call,” said Flore.
Flore decided to take the plunge, and he believes that it was a worthwhile decision.
“I’m really glad that I did it. The community’s been really supportive, Business is not what it would be, but it’s good considering. We’ve been very well supported.”
Flore makes every batch of ice cream using local dairy from Hatchland farm in North Haverhill, NH, which yields a smooth product with a 15% butterfat content.
The flavors at Angelo’s Amore are inspired by Flore’s trips to Italy. Intrigued by the unmatched simplicity of the cuisine in Italy and other parts of Europe, he decided to forego superfluous add-ins and novelty flavors in lieu of simple, clean flavors made with high quality ingredients.
“When I counted the number of ingredients in the food I was ordering [in Italy], it would be like six. It didn’t matter what you got. There was hardly anything in it, and it was the best thing you ever had,” said Flore. “I think that applies to their ice cream and their savory food…it’s a state of mind”.
Flore takes a lot of pride in his vanilla, which many claim to be among the best they’ve ever had. In addition to the classic flavors, on any given day one can find peach (made with real peaches, of course), ginger and merengada, a Spain-inspired combination of lemon and cinnamon that practically screams summer.
Flore began just selling pints out of his takeout window, but now cups, cones, sundaes and frappes are available. You can even get a “puppy cup” for your dog.
Dairy-free flavors aren’t available as a result of the pandemic, as coconut milk is inconsistently available. However, Flore intends to meet the demand once he can find a high quality dairy substitute. He also wants to offer Italian gelato as a nod to his travels.
The passion Flore exhibits will be abundantly clear after one taste. Despite the numerous challenges presented by the pandemic, the team at Angelo’s Amore is providing Newmarket with the cold summer treat the town deserves.
Visit their takeout window at 55 Main St. Suite 111 outside the Newmarket Mills building. They’re open daily 1-9 P.M.