65 Years of Sweet Success

BY DAN PICCOLI

grandson of the shop’s original owners, Minetta and Harold Meier. “It’s what makes the demanding work so rewarding.”

Curly’s Ice Cream, a local landmark on Route 23 in Riverdale, has been satisfying ice-cream lovers with the tastiest homemade treats in the area for 65 years. The Curly’s philosophy is quite simple. “Use only the best ingredients, be persistent in all areas of quality and serve our customers in a friendly environment,” says Pompton Plains resident and owner Chris Meier—who also happens to be the

The Meiers originally purchased a gas station located on the old Riverdale Circle, but it had always been their dream to buy the adjacent ice-cream shop. So, in 1958, they did just that. For the next 10 years, the shop went by the name of Carvel (a national ice-cream brand) before officially becoming Curly’s Ice Cream, a nod to Harold Meier and his childhood nickname (you guessed it—his hair was very curly).

Since then, three generations of Meiers have kept the tradition alive. Amy and Barry Meier followed Minetta and Curly. Today, Chris and Kerry Meier operate the well-known and much-loved shop. When asked what it means to have three generations of the family involved in Curly’s, Chris Meier says, “Each generation feels it is their legacy to keep the shop going—they respect the demanding work of all the previous generations. We are also proud to have great employees, who are a key part of the Meier team. It is a fun job. We get to watch people enjoy our ice cream products. You see a lot of happy smiles as you watch people of all ages decide what to order and then the excitement when their ice cream is handed to them.”

Made fresh daily, Curly’s products include soft and hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, Italian ice and vegan/dairy-free options. The shop also offers banana splits, shakes and ice-cream cakes. Whatever the holiday or event, Curly’s will design a custom cake to capture the spirit of the day.

Committed to the Community

The Meiers not only run a successful business, but they are also extremely giving. Chris Meier and his family love being a part of the Pequannock community with “its great people, excellent schools and wonderful surrounding towns.” To pay it forward, the business is a long-time sponsor of Pequannock Little League and donates generously to multiple Tricky Tray events and fundraisers.

Currently, Curly’s employs 34 local area team members. Located on the northbound side of Route 23, on the border of Pompton Plains and Riverdale, the shop offers plenty of parking on premises. You’ll know you are in the right place when you see the long line of customers looping around the building. But don’t worry: The line moves quickly. Curly’s is an outdoor facility, so take your dessert to your car or have a seat at the nearby picnic tables. Open for business 11 months out of the year, Curly’s closes only for a short winter break between Christmas and February 1.

Winning Flavors

One of the most-often asked questions at Curly’s is, “What flavor is most popular?”

According to Chris Meier, it’s a tie between chocolate chip mint and cookie monster hard ice cream. But odds are that whatever your favorite flavor, Curly’s is dishing it up.

Chris Meier says, “We strongly believe that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Throughout the years, we have kept it simple: Offer a great customer experience and an excellent product, while supporting the community.” That sounds like the perfect formula for beloved and enduring business.

Dan Piccoli is a long-time resident of Morris County, spending most of his life in Lincoln Park. Recently retired, Piccoli was a successful executive with a global Fortune 500 company for more than 40 years.