Founders Patrick Cruz and Ka-wana Jefferson inside Misplaced Borough Ice Cream’s Yonkers flagship, the place Caribbean heritage meets handcrafted sweetness.
Photograph by Kevin Jean-Jacques
Lost Borough Ice Cream is spreading pleasure past New York this summer season. The beloved Yonkers ice cream store is launching nationwide delivery and is able to deliver its wealthy, Caribbean — and Latin- impressed flavors straight to freezers throughout the nation, simply in time for Nationwide Ice Cream Month.
What started as an area ardour venture shortly turned a cultural staple. Co-founder Patrick Cruz, a longtime social employee with Dominican and Puerto Rican roots, remembers the second the concept took maintain throughout a 2019 go to to a Chicago ice cream store. “They have been actually promoting happiness,” Cruz stated. “I knew then I wished to try this too, however in Yonkers.”
Since opening their flagship at 123 New Fundamental St. simply over two years in the past together with his shut good friend and enterprise associate Ka-wana Jefferson, Misplaced Borough Ice Cream has constructed a loyal following with its handcrafted, small-batch menu. The flavors have fun Cruz’s heritage from Bizcocho, a candy Dominican cake taste evoking birthday celebrations, to Coquito, a creamy Puerto Rican vacation drink infused with 5% Bacardi rum.
“That one took some convincing,” Cruz admitted concerning the alcohol-infused Coquito. “We weren’t certain about including alcohol to ice cream, nevertheless it shortly turned one in every of our prime sellers.”
Different fan favorites embody Dominican Vanilla, made with actual vanilla extract sourced straight from the Dominican Republic, and Grape Nut, Taro, and the cult-favorite Purple Velvet Membership. “I attempted altering the Purple Velvet recipe as soon as. That was a mistake,” Cruz laughed. “Clients, let me know actual quick what to not mess with.”
Although Cruz nonetheless balances his profession in social work, Misplaced Borough has grow to be an extension of his group care. “Working a store like this in your individual neighborhood is deeply private,” he stated. “It’s a spot for folks to have fun, unwind, and simply be joyful.”
The identify Lost Borough pays homage to Yonkers’ distinctive historical past. In 1898, whereas Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island joined New York Metropolis as boroughs, Yonkers and Mount Vernon voted to stay unbiased, incomes Yonkers the nickname “the lost borough” of NYC. “We wished to reclaim that identification and make it one thing proud,” Cruz stated.
The street hasn’t been with out challenges. Their first location, blocks from their present storefront, struggled because of low foot site visitors. “Ice cream is a luxurious, not a necessity. Location is the whole lot,” Cruz mirrored. A fortunate break got here when an area actual property developer, impressed by their product, provided a brand new house close by that reworked their enterprise.
With an expanded crew and a revamped menu underway, Misplaced Borough can be launching a brand new cell ice cream cart for festivals, block events, and personal occasions throughout the tri-state space.
For Yonkers residents, Misplaced Borough Ice Cream isn’t only a place to indulge, it’s a supply of neighborhood satisfaction,” he stated.“The group has proven up for us in a phenomenal manner,” Cruz stated. “It’s grow to be a degree of satisfaction.”
Wanting forward, Cruz and Jefferson plan to develop thoughtfully, preserving the soul of their model whereas reaching new followers nationwide. “Folks ask if we’ll franchise,” Cruz stated. “We wish the world to know: Dominican vanilla hits completely different.”
Till then, they’ll maintain serving pleasure, one scoop at a time. “Once I see somebody’s face gentle up after making an attempt our flavors? That’s the whole lot,” Cruz stated. “That’s why we do that.”
