Oink’s Dutch Treat is a beloved, family owned ice cream parlor in New Buffalo, MI serving over 50 flavors of Ashby’s ice cream in a whimsical pig themed environment.
Oink’s was founded by Roger Vink, a long time P.E.teacher at New Buffalo High School who retired after 20–25 years in the early 1980’s. During summer breaks, Vink and his wife Sharon visited Baldwin, Michigan and were inspired by the lively atmosphere of the ice cream shops like Jones Ice Cream Shop. Observing the joy people experienced on warm summer nights fueled his dream of opening his own ice cream parlor.
In 1986-1987, he purchased a building that formerly was hamburger restaurant. In 1987,he converted this into his into his ice cream parlor called Oink’s Dutch Treat.
Oink’s Dutch Treat
From its inception, Oink’s Dutch Treat became famous not only for its ice cream but also for its whimsical and elaborate decor. The shop is adorned from floor to ceiling with thousands of pig themed items and nostalgic ice cream memoribilia creating a visually engaging, immersive environment for the customers. Over the years, the shop has expanded its offerings to include over 50 flavors of Ashby Ice Cream, low fat and sugar free options and selection of candies, chocolates and souvenirs at the adjacent Oink’s Chocolate Pig Store.
Roger ran Oink’s Dutch Treat for 33 seasons, earning strong community recognition. In 2020, after over 35 years of ownership, he decided to retire. He successfully sold the shop, which included both the business and its collectibles to Michael Schimanski with the transaction facilitated by Small Business Deal Advisors.
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