An Awful-ly sweet idea: Newport Creamery takes its treats to the streets with special truck

Physically and economically, it's a very small part of the Newport Creamery world. But there's something special about that second-generation ice cream truck. In contrast to the norm of the public flocking to the Creamery's 10 locations, the ice cream truck takes the product to the people.

Operating March through October, the truck is Awful Awful (obligatory Newport Creamery pun complete) busy in the summer months, serving all of Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts that fall within the roughly one-hour driving radius of Newport Creamery's Coventry location.

As of last month, the truck already had more than 200 bookings for this season, said Newport Creamery District Manager Leroy Sanderson.

“Every year, we've gotten bigger and better,” Sanderson said. “We have a lot of repeat customers.”

Where can you find the Awful Awful truck?

The customer/event gamut runs wide.

Birthday parties for children, for adults. Corporate events. Salve Regina University has brought the truck to town multiple times. The Newport Navy Base has been an annual customer. The truck has parked and served at St. George's School. You may have seen it at Mohegan Sun. At both of the Factory of Terror locations, in Fall River and Seekonk; scary and yummy, apparently, go well together.

The Newport Creamery ice cream truck is a big hit at wedding receptions. The line forms fast when the mobile version of an iconic family-friendly Rhode Island business throws open its service window for open scoop time.

Newport Creamery ice cream truck history dates back prior to the Jan Companies' purchase of the company. The original truck started rolling last century when the company converted an old milk delivery truck. The Jan Companies bought Newport Creamery in 2001 and have kept the truck rolling.

The company updated in 2017, customizing a Dodge Ram van into the current Newport Creamery ambassador.

On a visit to Newport Creamery's two Massachusetts locations, in Fall River, Sanderson and fellow District Manager Katelyn Dodson spoke proudly of their truck and what the future may hold.

They emphasized that Newport Creamery tries to keep truck bookings affordable and that each event is customized. They schedule has the truck at as many as three bookings on some days.

While bookings own most of the truck's working hours, it still functions old-school, parking at public beaches and parks.

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What can you get from the Awful Awful truck?

There are five ice cream truck drivers, and they have to be good at scooping and blending in tight quarters, with smiles on their faces.

Last year, Sanderson said, the truck did about $85,000 of business. The goal for this year, he said, is six figures.

Expansion, Sanderson said, is a distinct possibility, and not in the distant future. It might involve a bigger truck. Or a second truck. Perhaps a food truck. Newport Creamery loyalists love those sandwiches on toasted bread.

“We'll see what works, what doesn't work,” Sanderson said. “We're always looking to innovate and grow. The sky's the limit. We're not there yet.”

For more information or to book the truck, visit newportcreamery.com or email marketing@jancompanies.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Awful Awful truck brings Newport Creamery favorites to parties, beaches