Sammy’s Kitchen expands to include frozen treats next door
After 27 years in business, the founding owner of Sammy’s Kitchen, Kevin Salameh, expanded to launch Sammy’s Ice Cream next door in early June. Now, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner, the family-owned local business offers Hershey’s Ice Cream and a variety of other sugary menu items only a block from the Boardwalk.
Sammy’s Ice Cream held a soft opening last year to test out the hand-dipped desserts, but the grand opening took place this summer with a true menu after time and effort in the off-season. This season, Sammy’s is offering free ice cream to children under 10 years old and advertises the least-expensive ice cream prices in Rehoboth.
“There are other places that sell Hershey’s [ice cream], but we have a big offering,” said Evan Hrivnak of Lavel Consulting, who works with Sammy’s Kitchen. “We pair that with the low prices and the seating and the air conditioning, and we think that makes this a really good place for families, kids and groups.”
The closing of Royal Treat last year allowed Salameh to open a long-desired ice cream parlor. He said he didn’t feel comfortable establishing this type of business while Royal Treat owners, the Fornwalt family, were still in operation.
“I know them,” Salameh said. “They are very nice people, so it’s not like competition or something. After they closed, I decided to open.”
Hrivnak supervises digital marketing for Sammy’s, but his role expanded when Salameh asked him to spearhead and manage the ice cream project. The right side of the restaurant was a fitting spot since it was only used until noon, when the breakfast crowd left.
Apart from Hershey’s Ice Cream, Sammy’s parlor offers milkshakes, sundaes, floats and smoothies. Special creations include frozen chocolate-covered bananas, sugar-coated Liege waffles, freshly made cotton candy from their machine, and ice cream flights with six flavors. Sammy’s Ice Cream also has gluten- and lactose-free options.
Sammy’s Ice Cream is open every day from 12 to 10 p.m. at 32 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach. Customers will receive 20% off their order if they mention Sammy’s Ice Cream to a friend.
“We found that after 27 years in business, [Salameh] realizes – we realize – that it’s not about the money sometimes,” Hrivnak said. “It’s just about being a part of people’s time in Rehoboth.”
For details on the new ice cream offerings, go to sammyskitchenrehoboth.com/ice-cream.
