Lewis County Coffee Company ventures into the ice cream world

Jul. 10—In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream month.

Between that and the extreme heat, this month seemed like the perfect time for Lewis County Coffee Company to open its newest location and venture into the world of ice cream.

The latest initiative of the rapidly growing local business is The Creamery, Lewis County Coffee Company co-owner Samantha Magnuson told The Chronicle.

This Thursday, July 11, The Creamery will hold its soft opening at 3 p.m. pending final approval from the Lewis County Public Health Department, followed by the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, July 19.

The weekend of July 19 is also National Ice Cream Weekend, with National Ice Cream Day taking place on Sunday, July 21. The Creamery, which will also serve coffee and other established favorites along with ice cream, will be the Lewis County Coffee Company's ninth location.

Festivities will kick off on July 19 with the ribbon-cutting by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce followed by ice cream sample tasting, giveaways — including the opportunity to win two free pints of ice cream for a year — and free ice cream mini cones from 5 to 6 p.m.

"Free ice cream for one solid hour. It should be nuts," Magnuson said.

Though the business is known for its coffee, Magnuson and her husband Spike Magnuson — who is the other co-owner — are also ice cream lovers.

The Chronicle met up with Magnuson at The Creamery earlier this week to talk about the new business.

"Ice cream is very community and family driven, and our brand is very family driven," Magnuson said. "If you need a place to take your kid after a daddy-daughter dance, or they do well in a spelling bee, or the tee ball game does good, bring the tee ball team. Ice cream is good for that. You can't always take your kiddos to coffee."

Magnuson is planning to keep The Creamery open late for couples looking for a place for a late-night date or families hungry for dessert after going out to dinner.

Hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Located at 1622 S. Gold St. in Centralia's Fairway Shopping Center, The Creamery now occupies the building that once housed Nea's Ice Cream and a Baskin-Robbins franchise.

Nea's, a play on the Neapolitan ice cream flavor, was originally opened in 2019 by Shane and Marin Marlantes. The Marlantes originally purchased the Baskin-Robbins franchise in 2014, but when the business was closing, they jumped at the opportunity to go independent.

Though Nea's initially survived the COVID-19 shutdowns, it closed in late 2023. The Magnusons decided to keep the location as an ice cream shop as no other creameries are in the area.

Renovations have been made to the location, including expanding seating both inside and outside while maintaining the drive-thru window.

For those looking for a sweet treat, ice cream can be served by the scoop in cups or house-made cones, and can be packaged in pints to go, as well. Additionally, Magnuson said the ice cream is made in house and features some flavors inspired by the coffee flavors served by Lewis County Coffee Company.

Ice cream flavors currently in the coolers of The Creamery include vanilla, chocolate, salted caramel, churro, Reese's Pieces peanut butter, peanut butter marshmallow, espresso, honey cinnamon, cast iron cookie, evergreen mint chocolate chip, birthday cake and cotton candy, along with strawberry and raspberry sorbets.

Aside from ice cream and coffee, The Creamery will also sell grab-and-go food items and summer salads.

For more information, visit https://www.lewiscountycoffee.com/ or follow The Creamery on its Facebook page at https://tinyurl.com/usw3anm5.