The Creamery, a newly opened pop-up “destination,” reminds one of someplace discovered hidden in the bucolic hills of Germany or overlooking a Pacific Ocean bluff in southern California. But it’s here—a couple of very walkable blocks from the heart of Kennett Square. We got to experience opening night and observed as the local crowd was wowed.
The spot is rustically designed to look as if it’s been here forever—and in reality, it almost has been. The history of the area has the cluster of old buildings built in 1902, when a dairy facility by brothers Charles and Theodore Pennock was founded and named the Eastern Condensed Milk Co. The creamery closed in 1909 and was later acquired by Sealtest, a Philadelphia dairy and ice cream company. Eventually closed again and left abandoned and crumbling, the spot waited patiently until someone with vision came along.
That someone was Mike Bontrager, who began the transformation of The Creamery in 2011 with his energetic project manager, Sandra Mulry, who gushes, “We are highly satisfied with the results. We wanted the feel to be authentic with ‘upcycled’ reclaimed woods, palettes and stone. The light fixtures [a must-see] over the bar are refurbished fan vents. We blended gardenscapes and decks with native plants and flowers throughout.” (Major props to Groundswell Design Group of Spruce Street Harbor Park and Independence Beer Garden fame for the lush floral decor.)
Chef Jeremy Nolen of Whetstone Tavern and Brauhaus Schmitz heads the food program with a menu including salads, bratwurst and wraps. Prices range from $3 for a Bavarian pretzel to $14 for a stacked Double Biergarten Burger. Additional rotating foodtruck rockstars included Unionville’s own Hood’s BBQ and Punk’d Pineapple of The Market at Liberty Place fame.
Beverage specialist Charlie Collazo of Philly’s Institute Bar is in charge of pouring featured wines, signature cocktails and 16 craft brews on tap, including New Belgium Fat Tire, Victory Summer Love and Headwaters Pale Ale, Tröegs Sunshine Pils and the summery 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon.
The vibe has a casual edge, with Edison bulbs draped in every conceivable corner and live greenery mixed with cement, metallic textures, stone and brick. With umbrella-shaded picnic tables, benches and bistro sets throughout, the place definitely encourages community communication while toasting solid friendships.
The layout provides natural acoustics for live music, and the space remains talkable while being groovy enough to cut a rug with a date, the spouse or the kids. An inclusive game area loaded with checkers, Jenga, cornhole and bocci ball courts awaits those who are willing, as does a kiddies’ section replete with pint-size tables, benches and tons of crayons.
Opening night was packed with very long (albeit reasonably quick) lines for a brew, which should ease up as the summer moves on. The crowd is as diverse as Southern Chesco can be with something here for everyone.
Hours are 11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Thursday, 11 a.m.–midnight on Friday and Saturday and noon–10 p.m. on Sunday. Alcohol hours are 5–10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 p.m.–midnight on Friday, 2 p.m.–midnight on Saturday and noon–10 p.m. on Sunday through the month of September.
Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for the latest and greatest event information.
The Creamery is located at 401 Birch St. in Kennett Square.
- Top two photos: Kelli Cohee
- Remaining photos: Ed Williams
