Hidden Gems: Meet Lisa Thompson of The Ish Creamery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Thompson.

Lisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
I bought a fixer-upper in Ishpeming in 2019. It was supposed to be a fun place to stay when I was in the area to bike and run but when COVID restrictions forced me to close my massage practice in MN I decided to move there full-time. I delivered groceries during the shutdown and spent my free time riding my bike around the UP. At some point, while eating ice cream during one of those rides, I got the idea to open an ice cream shop in Ishpeming. Two years later, the building I’d had my eye on went up for sale. I had saved enough for the equipment, but buying the building would’ve been a stretch. I convinced a friend to become my “investor” with the promise I’d buy the building from his as soon as I could. He closed in February, and somehow by June, we’d transformed a real estate office into an ice cream shop. The Ish Creamery opened on June 24, 2022. It was a whirlwind first summer and the learning curve was steep, but we survived so I decided to take another risk and stay open all year. We survived that too and after another busy summer, I was able to buy the building in September of this year. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m not sure if owning a business is ever a smooth road, but that’s part of the fun! I learned right away to just keep tackling whatever gets thrown my way. The roof on the building failed the first March, which added a lot to the huge renovation we already had planned. The building didn’t have heat yet, but I had to get the wet carpet and ceiling tiles out before the mold set in. I bundled up and got to work. I made over 30 trips to the dump! After that, nothing could really phase me. The ice cream business is unique because you go from being extremely busy in the summer to slow in the winter, so you have to be able to adapt to the challenges that come with the two extremes. I’ve learned not to let one bad day or even month get me down. 

We’ve been impressed with The Ish Creamery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We’re an ice cream shop and candy store. We sell premium Chocolate Shoppe brand ice cream. We carry 24 flavors at a time and also offer shakes and malts. We carry nostalgic candy as well as some of the new candy that’s trending on social media. We’re open all year, which is definitely unusual for an ice cream shop in the UP! 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I was an elementary school teacher and then a massage therapist before I opened The Ish Creamery. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ishcreamery.com
• Instagram: @theishcreamery
• Facebook: Facebook.com/theishcreamery