The new owners of Hildebrandt's are making sure the crown jewel here gets the shine and spotlight it deserves - the ice cream.
WILLISTON PARK, NY --
And then, Hildebrandt's almost became a statistic, a memory just like all the others that were missed and mourned. In 2020, a new landlord hiked rents, and the family running the place since 1974 put up the white flag - Hildebrandt's would close unless a miracle happened. And he put his money where his mouth is, he said, buying two plush tigers that the shop was selling - appropriately, the Cincinnati Bengals were the other team playing that night - for $1,000.
And they are making sure the crown jewel here gets the shine and spotlight it deserves - the ice cream. It's made on the premises, comes in more than a dozen flavors, and is the foundation for an expansion of Hildebrandt's beyond its almost century-long home. Singer, seated by the front door for the interview, greeted every customer. "Hi ladies, how are you? Any table you'd like," was one of many warm greetings Singer offered to the lunchtime crowd.