Local Creamery — Restaurant in Plano

Probably one of the worst experiences we’ve had working with a small business owner.

You should know in advance of this review, that Brooke, the owner, spent the first conversation, making it clear that she couldn’t rely on her own employees. “Teenagers!“ was what she kept saying, to the miscommunications that precursored our connecting with her. And even once the transaction was underway, she lost some vital information, and then an hour later emailed yet again: “found it! Disorganized is an accurate adjective, though she casts responsibly / blame on everyone but hersel.

We wished to purchase several gift certificates to thank our production crew that was wrapping a shoot on location.

Because we wanted to order several, and the website was not fully allowing personalization (we were trying to personalize it as a gift, and it wasn’t allowing us to “enter a message”) we were left to try to figure out with the owner. Because we were not there, physically, we went to great pains to provide every bit of information, so that this could get shipped out immediately, without any expense to ownership.

Tho initially friendly and “welcoming“, we got as far as paying for the gift certificate. Even though she saw the charge was put through, she still held out for 24 hours, claiming that she’s been the victim of so much fraud, she needed to make sure the charge went through. Never have we had that issue with ANY business before (you order a pizza, pay with your card- Dominoes doesn’t email you an hour later saying ‘Sorry, the charge shows pending!” , but we basically needed to wait for her square confirming payment a full day later.

We were then treated to a series of communications about “I must protect my business!“ And demanded even MORE discussion, 24 hours later... Our senior producer was called out of a production meeting because this owner insisted on speaking, even though everything had been settled three times the day before, and payments have gone through. Let’s say that distrustful would be an understatement.

Never mind that the charge had gone through correctly, never mind that we had several conversations about why we needed to figure this out manually, and never mind the fact that we’re all adults busy working grueling production schedules – this small biz owner couldn’t wrap her nugget around getting one gift certificate done.

Ultimately, we canceled payment and moved the entire order to another local ice cream shop, family-owned, the next town over. They were not only thrilled to take over and get it done, but followed up to ensure that everybody was happy. Ultimately the $1800 budget was well spent at another ice cream shop in Texas.

Perhaps you have to be a certain brand of “special“ to single-handedly run an ice cream shop in Plano, Texas – but the lack of professionalism, respect, and common sense was alarming.

Note: given the toxic and accusatory commuincation we were treated to by this owner, we have no doubt there will be a tart, defensive and unkind response. We hope that will prove to you, the consumer, exactly what kind of ownership we were forced to put up with to get a simple purchase done. Need proof? Just take a look at her response to one reviewer who dared to leave 4 Stars…

She goes on for paragraphs lecturing the poor customer, all in the name of “accuracy”. It’s a Google review site, and it’s here to protect the consumer. Perhaps spend a little bit more time training your “teenagers” and a little less time lecturing your customers…?

As there appear to be at least 50 other homemade ice cream shops in Plano and it’s surrounding areas, we highly recommend you go to anyone of those and avoid this one – particularly if you’re trying to get a gift for someone...

**Very long review, but worth reading it all. My entire family is dairy and gluten free due to food sensitivities and allergies. That being said, we are very cautious about where we choose to dine. My daughter and I were invited to participate in a family friendly game night and ice cream event going on at The Local Creamery. I wasn't sure what to expect as I had never heard of this establishment. When we walked in our first impression was "wow, this is a very nice and clean ice cream parlor." We stood in line and began to stare at the delicious looking waffle cone that we heard was dairy and GLUTEN free (it ended up being amazing). As we approached the counter to sample & order we were greeted by a woman with a big smile and friendly demeanor. She immediately made us feel like we were brand new customers on Grand Opening day. She was extremely accommodating, kind and patient. We found out later that she was the owners wife. Once she found out we are dairy and gluten free she directed us to all of the amazing options they have. I am not over exaggerating when I say this ice cream is literally some of the best I've ever had, ever. I got Maple Pecan and Coffee & my daughter got Strawberry and I believe peppermint or candy cane (not sure which). By the way, they don't use artificial flavoring or coloring in their recipes. The second I tried the ice cream, the woman behind the counter noticed my reaction and I couldn't help but express how good the ice cream is/was. Mind blown! The rest of the staff seemed very happy to work there which was a good sign. Later on that evening, while the owner was cleaning up, he approached my daughter and I and struck up a conversation. We talked for a good 20 minutes or so. He made us feel so comfortable and welcome in his restaurant. He was very courteous, genuine and kind. It was like talking to a good family member. I was completely blown away by our experience! He told me they host spirit nights and community events. I highly recommend you plan a birthday party or any type of event at their shop. You won't regret it! They have great board games available to play at your leisure. Great opportunity to connect with family and friends! It was so nice to find an allergy friendly ice cream location that blows other ice cream out of the water! We are definitely going back soon! I highly recommend you try them out! Told you this review was worth...

We found that this ice cream shop generally lives up to its reputation, offering a creative range of unique flavors. They boast six dairy-free options, which is commendable, though it's worth noting these are priced higher than their dairy-based counterparts. It's important for vegan customers to be aware that, somewhat confusingly, not all dairy-free options are also vegan. The shop owner may want to clarify this distinction to avoid any unintentional missteps for those seeking strictly vegan choices.

The ice creams themselves, while visually appealing, do sometimes feature vibrant colors that might appear unnatural. The owner has stated that all colorings are derived from natural sources, however we were unable to independently verify this.

Beyond ice cream, the shop also provides brownies and other rich desserts. The staff, primarily teenagers, were friendly and cheerful during our visit. The shop’s decor is minimal with a touch of humor. During our visit, we didn't notice outdoor seating available, although the owner mentioned a patio.

As ordinary consumers, we are not paid or compensated in any way for this review. We found the ice cream to be generally good, with some caveats. We would recommend this shop to others, but with the noted points to consider. The shop could improve its clarity regarding vegan options, food coloring, and outdoor seating. We are always looking for reliable and transparent businesses and hope the owner will take this feedback into...