As a Mason resident, I love having lots of food options right in my hometown. One of my favorite dessert spots is Cincy Sammys! They have classic cookie flavors and also fun flavors of the week, ice cream and drinks. They also offer gluten-free options! It is a wonderful, local, family owned business that always gives back to the community by supporting charities, schools, and the arts, among others. Follow them on social media for surprise items, like mini cakes and cinnamon rolls on the weekend. If you are in the area they are a must, and if you’re not, make the drive! It is worth it.
Here’s a little Q&A with the owners:
How did Cincy Sammys start?
We started the business as an idea about 6 or 7 years ago. I wanted to use an old service station as part photo studio, part bakery/café. When Covid hit in March 2020, and I was no longer going to school teaching daily, I turned to baking chocolate chip cookies all the time. My wife and I baked all the time, passed off a lot of cookies to neighbors on front porches and eventually turned to creating our ideal chocolate chip recipe. In June 2020 we went on a trip to Arizona and found a chain out there that made ice cream sandwiches with cookies. We decided we could do the same thing, but on a scale that allowed us to focus on baking cookies that taste homemade. Fast-forward a full year, and we used a 10×10 tent and mobile freezer to take the show on the road. We set up at Third Eye Brewing Company in Sharonville and had a blast. One year later, we opened our own storefront in downtown Mason!
How did you come up with the name?
Funny or not, we initially had an entirely different business name, even an LLC under that name, but when we started to create our website and our social media, we discovered an individual who used the same name. After that discovery, we decided to change the name of our business to Cincy Sammys in honor of our first family dog, Samson. We thought it was a fun play on his name and “sammie” like a sandwich. So we threw grammatical rules to the side and landed on Cincy Sammys.
Where do you get the cookie flavor ideas?
Our core flavors come from flavors we love most, or flavors that we thought connected back to some of the pets we love. For instance, on our original menu we had an ice cream sandwich named “The Ruth” which was an Oreo Chocolate Chip cookie with cookies and cream ice cream and rainbow sprinkles. We thought the coloration of the cookie looked a little like our Blue Merle Great Dane Ruth! Rotating flavors are usually inspired by, or connected to a weekly theme (when we have the time and energy to come up with one). We have fun combining flavors we like in other desserts or candy and seeing how they can be translated into cookies.
What is your bestseller/must try?
Our bestseller has always been our classic chocolate chip cookie. Most folks grab that with a scoop of vanilla or triple chocolate ice cream. Lately folks love our cookie pie which is made with layers of cookie dough, fudge, and other “mix-ins”… and one of our homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies is always a hit!
Where do you get your ice cream?
Our ice cream comes from Velvet Creamery. We wanted to use ice cream that was as local as possible, so we partnered with Velvet, which is based out of Utica, Ohio!
Any chance of a cookie vending machine?!?
If only! We did add a walk-up window last year and some space outside for folks to be able to hang out and enjoy the summer weather, as well as a sweet treat!
Treat Yourself to Cincy Sammys
Next time you find yourself in Mason, take a little time to visit Cincy Sammys. With great flavors, a welcoming atmosphere, and a true community feel, it’s a place you’ll want to return to.
Photos courtesy of Cincy Sammys Facebook
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