Celebrated Ice Cream Shop Herrell’s to Expand into Amherst

“We’re thrilled,” says Herrell. “We expect it to be a delicious place to eat ice cream and frozen desserts of all kinds — plus, a cool place to work and shop for all: pun intended.” 

Founded in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1973 by Steve Herrell (Judy’s former husband and business partner), Herrell’s is credited with reinvigorating the homemade “gourmet” ice cream trade. For almost 45 years, the Herrells have made and sold slow-churned ice cream in their Northampton parlor, located in the lower level of Thornes Marketplace. Together, they built a strong community and following in the Connecticut River Valley and greater Massachusetts. Judy took over as owner in 2014, when Steve retired, and today the shop makes more than 400 flavors of artisanal ice cream, as well as baked goods, dairy-free No-Moo® frozen desserts, sorbets, and sherbets.

During a period of increasing economic challenges for small businesses, Judy was recently named Northampton’s 2024 Businessperson of the Year in recognition of her leadership, resilience, and dedication to working with other community business owners.

Since opening, Herrell’s has been committed to supporting sustainable farming practices and using only local ingredients, something that’s very important to Judy, who grew up helping out on her uncle’s farm in Pennsylvania. While at Hampshire, she continued agricultural work at the Hampshire College Farm. Judy credits the farm as one of the main things that drew her to Hampshire.

The pop-up location is set to open on Monday, August 26, at noon at 83 Cowls Road in North Amherst, and there are plans for a much larger ice cream parlor between Carefree Cakery and Provisions.

Read more about Herrell’s expansion in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.