On a hot summer afternoon, lines of people snake around the block for Amy’s Ice Cream. Kids balance their ice cream in one hand while parents grab handfuls of napkins, hoping to avoid the sticky car rides. Others soak in the welcoming atmosphere. The popular shop serves more than just ice cream, however — it offers community and a place of belonging. Serving smiles with every scoop, Amy’s Ice Cream has become the cornerstone of Austin culture and a nonnegotiable part of countless family memories. The founder, Ms. Amy Simmons, created the privately owned chain with one mission, represented by their catchy slogan: “Making People’s Day.” Since 1984, Amy’s Ice Cream has remained committed to delivering joy.

“At 24 years old, [Amy Simmons] came down [to Austin] and opened up the first Amy’s on Guadalupe [county],” Marketing Director Caitlin Cano said.

A part of what makes Amy’s Ice Cream notable is its initiative of creating a community for everyone. The shop’s unique culture fosters a friendly, fun, and workable environment. Above all, they prioritize making everyone feel welcome, no matter their background.

“By creating such microcultures within stores, our staff can better connect with customers and create a setting where people will want to come back,” Regional Operations Manager Zachary Green said.

Creating a welcoming environment has always been a big priority for Amy’s Ice Cream, setting them apart from most ice cream shops. During the shop’s first stages in the 1980s and 1990s, Ms. Simmons worked toward building a safe space for both consumers and producers.

“Amy [Simmons] was very progressive during her time, and saw the importance of connectedness far before other businesses did,” Mr. Green said.

Amy’s Ice Cream prides itself on creating a space where everyone — including the LGBTQA+ community — feels valued, accepted, and at home.

“A lot of people who are a part of the LGBTQ community and nonbinary community feel like they have a place where they belong when they work here,” Mx. Cano said.

For over four decades, Amy’s Ice Cream has produced fresh, homemade ice cream daily. The homegrown business focuses on authenticity: many of the available ice cream flavors are sourced from foreign countries, guaranteeing customers the genuine experience of each flavor.

“[In] our Belgium chocolate ice cream, the chocolate is sourced straight from Belgium,” Mx. Cano said. “Also, the Mexican Vanilla [ice cream], a fan favorite, is also sourced from Mexico.”

Behind an Amy’s Ice Cream on Burnet Road lies their production center, where people are working around the clock to manage over 400 rotating flavors. Every day, employees prepare handmade ice cream, develop flavors, and transport products all across Austin. Despite the current economic turbulence, Amy’s Ice Cream is committed to providing customers with the best service.

“Although right now prices are getting higher, we don’t plan on taking cuts for our customers anytime soon,” Mr. Green said.

Along with their popular ice cream shop, Amy’s Ice Cream also has a comprehensive bakery. Within their bakery, customers can buy a wide variety of items, from custom birthday cakes and wedding cakes to ice cream cakes and cupcakes.

“We just won Austin Chronicle’s ‘Best Birthday Cake’,” Mx. Cano said.

“As soon as we woke up on [the day after the flooding], we were immediately able to put in a fundraiser for the flood victims,” Mx. Cano said.

The first Amy’s Ice Cream location was opened in 1984 at 3500 Guadalupe St. over 40 years ago. However, the shop deeply influences Austin to this day, occupying a central niche in the city’s dessert scene. Whether grabbing a cone for lunch or celebrating with family and friends, Austinites know Amy’s Ice Cream isn’t just serving sweet treats: it’s promoting memories and happiness, leaving customers with something worth coming back for.