Catbird Creamery in Westbrook has closed indefinitely, and the owner says the business is for sale.
The ice cream shop and wholesaler is famous for exotic flavors such as Furious George – a concoction of caramelized bananas, dark chocolate chips and hot pepper. Other favorites included salted chocolate, brown sugar vanilla, strawberry balsamic, green tea ginger and tamari caramel. Open year-round, the company made small batches of gourmet ice cream using local ingredients.
When the business announced its closure on Facebook in November, ice cream lovers reacted with dismay. In an email Thursday, CEO Corey DiGirolamo described the decision as a personal one.
“We dedicated a large part of our lives to building Catbird Creamery and as a young family the commitment to both became too much,” DiGirolamo wrote. “We are selling the business and are hoping someone who has more time to commit to it will find this a great opportunity.”
DiGirolamo, who runs the shop with her husband, Andrew Warren, did not provide any further information about the sale of the business or when it might reopen.
Catbird Creamery started production in a friend’s sandwich shop in 2010, selling ice cream to local restaurants and specialty stores. In 2011, the business moved to a storefront in downtown Westbrook and began serving scoops as well. In 2015, an Indiegogo campaign helped the shop move to a larger space at 861 Main St. in Westbrook.
Fans of the business extended beyond Maine. Last year, Yahoo Food named the Catbird Creamery No. 15 on its list of the best ice cream shops in America.
Megan Doyle can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:
mdoyle@pressherald.com
Twitter: megan_e_doyle
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