A Warm Welcome Like No Other
By Matt Keating
Walking into Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café at Hamilton Town Center is like entering your grandma’s kitchen. The irresistible aromas, freshly baked pies, cozy leather couches, crackling fireplace, and a view of the serene pond create an inviting atmosphere. Everything is immaculate, with ceramic plates and silverware carefully set on the table.
Charles Hensley, the CEO of Homemade Cafés, is thrilled that customers feel at home in the café. He’s equally delighted that Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café has become a beloved addition to their successful chain of businesses.
Combining the Best of Desserts, Soups, Salads, and Sandwiches
Hensley explains that Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café is a new concept that merges the popular dessert products from their Pie Kitchen concept, which has been operating in Louisville for over 30 years, with a menu featuring high-quality soups, salads, and sandwiches. This combination was inspired by the success of McAlister’s Deli, which they introduced to central Indiana in 2003.
The deli concept was a hit, offering a wide variety of quality products and friendly service. Hensley wanted to incorporate the best elements of both brands into a comfortable bakery café environment. And he believes they’ve achieved their goals.
A Perfect Fit for Hamilton Town Center
The Hamilton Town Center location aligns perfectly with Homemade’s future plans. Hensley praises Noblesville as an ideal place to conduct business, thanks to its favorable residential and business demographics. The quality of the area, coupled with the advantages of the specific location, influenced their decision to open in Noblesville.
Hensley believes that customers will be delighted by the wide variety of menu options available at Homemade. The café offers baked goods and desserts that go beyond what you’d find in a regular bakery or grocery store. Imagine walking into the store and being greeted by glass display cases filled with freshly made fruit and meringue pies, layer cakes, cookies, and pastries.
Grandma’s Recipes Made Fresh Daily
At Homemade, their skilled bakers work diligently in front of guests to keep the display cases stocked with delectable desserts, producing delicious aromas that fill the air. Hensley proudly shares that their recipes are designed to evoke memories of the past when baking at home was a cherished tradition. The menu features items that are hard to come by elsewhere, tempting customers with the taste of nostalgia.
Affordability, Comfort, and Quality
Homemade aims to offer food and desserts that are affordable, consistently delicious, and reminiscent of home and family. Despite the increasing costs of quality ingredients and skilled labor, they strive to maintain affordable prices for their guests.
The café is designed to be a cozy space for relaxation. Whether you choose to sit by yourself in a lounge chair next to the fireplace or enjoy a meal on the patio overlooking the pond, Homemade creates an inviting atmosphere. Soon, their Noblesville store will have a large folding door that opens up to the patio, allowing guests to enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits. The aroma of freshly baked cookies, pies, or croissants adds to the pleasant environment while you savor your slice of pie, sip your coffee, or indulge in soup and a sandwich.
Irresistible Desserts and Savory Delights
Customers adore Homemade’s desserts. The Caramel Dutch Apple pie is the top seller at their Pie Kitchen stores in Louisville. Ask for it to be heated and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it will undoubtedly become one of your favorites. Other popular choices include the Chocolate, Coconut, and Lemon Meringue pies, as well as various cakes.
When it comes to ice cream, Homemade offers a treat that closely resembles what your grandfather might have made at home, using milk, cream, and sugar. Unlike their competitors, they do not include eggs in their recipe, resulting in a slightly icier but still creamy texture that captivates the taste buds.
Hensley also highlights the popularity of Homemade’s savory menu items. They take pride in offering exceptional choices like the Chicken Croissant sandwich, featuring quality pulled pot roast marinated overnight for enhanced flavor, and the French Dip which deviates from the standard roast beef slices. Additionally, Homemade serves a variety of soups and salads that come with a freshly baked croissant. And let’s not forget about their daily-made Buckeyes and Cake Drops, perfect for parties and events.
On a personal note, Hensley reveals his favorite items from the menu. He recommends trying the Caramel Dutch Apple pie with a scoop of ice cream, both Chess pies, a slice of German Chocolate, Strawberry or Carrot cake, the French Dip, Homemade Club sandwich, and the California Chicken salad. But above all, he is particularly fond of the Butter Pecan ice cream, praising its creamy texture and always ensuring to have a pint for the road.
Welcoming the People of Noblesville
According to Andy Vasiento, responsible for marketing and media at Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café, the people of Noblesville have been incredibly supportive. Sales continue to grow, and the initial reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. Vasiento hopes that Homemade will become one of the community’s favorite dining destinations, known for its delectable desserts and warm ambiance.
If you have a special occasion or holiday coming up, Vasiento advises contacting the store and placing an order in advance to secure your favorite pie, cake, or other desserts. Without preordering, there’s no guarantee they’ll have it in stock. For added convenience, Homemade will soon be launching an online ordering system, rewards club, and mobile application. They are also working on making gift cards available for purchase.
Remember, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café awaits you at 13230 Harrell Parkway in Noblesville, within Hamilton Town Center. If you have any inquiries, call 317-922-0016 or visit homemadecafes.com for more information.
