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Quadir Russell grew up going to Coyle’s Ice Cream in Islip — now, he owns the place. And he’s not stopping there.
Russell and his business partner, Michael Khoury — who together own Pickleball Xpress in Islip — are gearing up for a big year. In addition to running the beloved Bay Shore and Islip shops they purchased in 2023, the duo is preparing to open a new location in Lindenhurst through a collaboration with Gemelli Gourmet Market North, based in Glen Head.
The 1,800-square-foot storefront at 189 South Wellwood Avenue will feature Coyle’s Ice Cream in the front and Gemelli’s Gourmet in the back, bringing together two different — but complementary — food experiences under one roof.
“It’s a win-win,” Russell said. “We’ll drive traffic to each other and create something totally unique for Lindenhurst.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
The idea came together through a family connection between Khoury and the owners of Gemelli Gourmet Market North. What began as a casual conversation about sharing space quickly turned into a full-fledged culinary collaboration.
“They had just signed the lease on a space in Lindenhurst, and we had been talking about opening a Coyle’s there ourselves,” said Russell.
So they decided to team up and split the storefront.
The Lindenhurst location will feature Coyle’s new lineup of sweet creations, including hot chocolate with house-made marshmallow rims, Belgian waffle sundaes, and ice cream nachos. Gemelli’s will serve up its signature gourmet sandwiches, grab-and-go meals, and chopped salads.
At the same time, Russell and Khoury are gearing up for construction on a new, much larger Coyle’s in Islip — nearly three times the size of the original shop. (Check back with greaterlongisland.com later for more updates on this)
ROOTS IN COYLE’S
Coyle’s is one of Long Island’s most beloved homemade ice cream brands, with roots going back to 1985 when the original Bay Shore shop was opened by founders Marty and Janice Coyle. A second location debuted in Islip in 2007. The Coyles later sold the shops in 2017.
Russell, a North Babylon native and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate, spent time working as an engineer at IBM before making the leap into entrepreneurship. As a lifelong customer of Coyle’s, the opportunity to carry on its legacy — and grow it.
“I felt like it was a business that was ripe for growth, and definitely could be expanded upon,” said Russell.
IF YOU GO
Guests will enter through a single entrance and find two distinct food spots inside. Coyle’s will offer its full ice cream menu — including the Oreo flavor that Russell insists is unmatched — while Gemelli’s Express serves up Italian deli classics.
The Lindenhurst spot is expected to open this month.
