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Lindenhurst is now home to Long Island’s first Abbott’s Frozen Custard.
The new dessert joint opened at 198 East Montauk Highway last month, in the former Uncle Louie G’s location.
The store was opened by brother-and-sister Manuel Calvelos and Lydia Alleida, along with Calvelos’ fiancée Juliann Altaner.
How it started
Calvelos, who grew up in Island Park and now lives in Copiague, has been in the restaurant business his whole life, most recently owning and operating coffee trucks on the island.
He said about a year and a half ago, he started thinking about a new venture. That’s when he asked his sister Alleida, a Carvel manager, how the ice cream business was. “She said it’s great, barely any waste,” said Calvelos.
It was off to the races from there.
At first, they thought of opening a Carvel, but it wasn’t the right fit for them. After perusing options, they landed on Abbott’s. “They are very family-oriented,” said Calvelos. “It’s not the type of company that is very corporate.”
Abbott’s was founded in Rochester in 1926 by Arthur Abbott, who traveled with carnivals to sell his frozen treats. The company in 1957 was purchased by Thelma and Lenny Schreiber, the family that still operates the company now. The Schreibers kept the name and secret recipe and later began franchising in 1977. While most of their locations are in the greater Rochester area, there are also locations in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
About frozen custard
So why frozen custard? Calvelos says its leaps and bounds better than ice cream.
“Frozen custard is made in small batches throughout the day, with a secret family recipe,” said Calvelos. “It’s churned in the custom machines we have.”
It churns slower than a traditional ice cream machine, which gives it a “smoother and creamier texture” compared to ice cream, said Calvelos. He added it’s “much richer in taste, and it also contains egg yolks.”
If you go
At Abbott’s Lindenhurst, there will be at least eight flavors available daily. There will be new flavors added on a daily basis, but the staples that never change are chocolate, vanilla, and chocolate almond. There is a dairy-free option as well.
They also serve up cakes, pies, cookies, and more.
Top: Photo of a cup of frozen custard from Abbott’s. (Credit: Facebook)
