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Long Island’s first Emack & Bolio’s ice cream shop set to open next week in Manorville

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Outrageous. Fantastic. Ridiculous.

When you fulfill your promise of being the place selling “ice cream that rocks,” your customers are going to use some pretty potent superlatives to describe your product.

Such has been the case for the uniquely named Emack & Bolio’s, a Boston-base ice cream store chain that gives its customers — no matter their age — that special kid-in-a-candy-store feeling.

Never before seen on Long Island, an Emack & Bolio’s is set to open as soon as Monday, May 17, in Manorville.

Peter Muino and his wife Kerry of Holbrook are ditching their longtime jobs to bring the ice cream store to the shopping plaza anchored by King Kullen, located at 460 County Road 111.

“We’re located at the gateway to the Hamptons,” said Peter Muino, 53, noting that his ice cream shop is located just off Exit 70 of the Long Island Expressway. “Every time we came here to look at the spot, there were people who would come into the store — even though Swell had already closed. It has great foot traffic, and that’s what you need in any business.”

Emack & Bolio’s fills the spot left behind by Swell Yogurt Cafe. And Emack & Bolio’s will fill your stomach with ridiculously creative ice cream flavors, including the likes of Beantown Buzz, an espresso ice cream with cookie crunch and chocolate covered espresso beans.

Some other flavors: the black raspberry powered “Deep Purple” chip, Grasshopper Pie featuring crème de menthe, and Almond Coconut Bar. Click here to see them all.

Muino said the shop also will feature just-as-delicious vegan and yogurt options and waffle cones covered in either Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch, Honeycombs or some other breakfast cereal favorites.

Time for change

For 23 years, Peter Muino made a living as a FedEx ground contractor, running a fleet of 18 trucks on Long Island. His wife has been working at the Courtyard by Marriott near MacArthur Airport.

Their combined income paid the bills and helped the family take some nice vacations, but for Peter Muino, his work was otherwise a thankless job.

“You could do everything the way the customers want it, and you’ll still never hear about it,” he said.

Suffice to say, the Muinos will get immediate feedback in their new endeavor — in the form of wide smiles, heavenly “yums” and happy tummies.

“Who doesn’t love ice cream? We are going to have instant gratification,” said Peter Muino, who has spent recent weeks filling out his staff with local high school kids.

About Emack & Bolio’s

Music attorney and self-declared hippie Bob Rook opened the first Emack & Bolio’s, in Boston, back in 1975. He named the store after two homeless men he had done pro bono work for.

Rook’s goal was to provide a homemade ice cream spot that musicians could go to after their gigs to mellow out and satisfy their midnight munchies. Rook has worked closely with Aerosmith, Boston, The Cars, U2 and James Brown.

And he’s pals with Long Island’s Dee Snider, the lead singer of the mega-popular 1980s rock band Twister Sister. Their such good buddies that Rook, now 79, just honored Snider with a new ice cream flavor: Twisted Dee-light, chocolate fudge ice cream rockin’ & rollin’ with brownies and chocolate chips inside.

The Manorville Emack & Bolio’s will be the 19th to open up in the United States. Two dozen others are scattered across China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Emack & Bolio’s also sells smoothies, candy, ice cream sodas and their own bottled root beer.

“This is something different. And something different will always do well at first,” Peter Muino said. “But then it’s our job to keep up the customer satisfaction.” 

Photos from Emack & Bolio’s in Manorville

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