Ashford Junction Depot Open for Their 2nd Season
Ashford Junction Depot Open for Their 2nd Season
It’s Going to be One Sweet Summer in Ellicottville
We all love a comeback story, right? When the Ashford Junction Diner on Route 242 closed its doors a handful of years ago, Ellicottville lost a great little restaurant and gift shop. Fast forward to last year, when local residents Mike and Melanie Korzeniewski took over the space and gave it new life in the form of a cozy little ice cream shop. They made the summer of 2022 a sweet one (literally speaking) then decided to shut down for the winter season. Now summer is making a comeback and so is the AJD!
When ellicottvilleNOW spoke to Mike about the 2023 season, we asked him what they had in store. He said, “We are continuing to try and expand our product line. We currently have 24 flavors of Hershey’s hard ice cream, chocolate and vanilla soft-serve, Root Beer floats, 8 flavors of smoothies as well as coffee drinks. We want to be able to offer something for everyone. Our most popular product last season was our milkshakes to where we started offering them on our event truck. We can make them out of any of our 24 flavors, plus we offer custom creations.”
If you’ve got food allergies, don’t fret. Out of those 24 options, they’ve got even more options. “As a family with food allergies, we want to be able to offer something for everyone,” said Mike. “We have low sugar, low fat, gluten free, dairy free and dye free options. These are available in our hard ice cream, milkshakes, floats and smoothies.” (That’s great inclusion right there.)
The shop is all about family. It’s just Mike, Melanie and their kids Aaliyah, Landen and Kallie running the show. And of course, we had to ask what creation is their favorite. Mike replied, “We are always experimenting with the milkshakes, mixing different flavors and toppings to create something new and delicious. The great thing about these is that you can easily take them with you. Last summer some of my nurse friends in Buffalo wanted milkshakes so I threw some ice in a cooler and took them to the Emergency Department for them.” (Milkshake delivery service?! Sign us up!)
But Ashford Junction Depot isn’t just about tasty frozen treats. This summer they are adding the gift shop back in by offering space to local vendors who would like to promote their products. “We are continuing to add items from local crafters daily,” explained Mike. “Currently we have keychains, cups, mugs, tumblers, hats, towels, shirts, candles and pictures. This is only a small sample of what our vendors have to offer. We are more than happy to put customers in contact with creators for custom products.”
There are also plans in the works to go year-round and re-open the restaurant side of the business to incorporate a hot food menu. (Breakfast hours could make a comeback! Yes please!) As Mike explained, it’s still a work in progress as they get all the necessary equipment, certifications and health department requirements in order. But eventually they would like to feature take-out pizza, wings and fried finger foods, as well as soup and baked goods… This is going to be one delicious spot to visit in the future!
And you can’t forget their Ice Cream Truck. They can take their selections on the go to various events throughout the summer. Reach out to Mike at 716-699-1028 and see if the truck is available for your special occasion.
“We are looking forward to a great season in this beautiful town,” Mike said. “We are located at the intersection of Routes 242 and 240, just five minutes outside the town center. We offer indoor and outdoor seating and have ample parking. We invite everyone in the community to come on out with your friends and make some new ones while you are here.”
Thank you, Mike and family for bringing such a spectacular location back to life and offering the sweet taste of summer to our community. Greatly looking forward to the time you become a year-round destination. Make sure to check out both their Facebook page and ashfordjunctiondepot.com for new updates and info.
