A Nye’s Start
Opening a restaurant was a lifelong ambition for Christian Nye, and suddenly, the timing seemed right. He and his wife were determined to make it a family affair and found what seemed like the perfect spot for their neighborhood café. Nearly an acre of land with established gardens would allow their children to run and, even better, learn to grow something. Determined to turn this vision into reality, his wife set to work on a business plan while Christian began dreaming up the menu. Sure enough, a handmade ice cream sandwich found its way onto the dessert menu. While they both felt it was a great addition, they never fully imagined the possibilities—until a pivotal moment.
To test the concept, they brought the ice cream sandwiches to a room full of kindergartners for their son’s birthday celebration. The response was overwhelming—not just from the kids, but from the adults as well. That afternoon, the dream took root. Why not bring back the classic ice cream sandwich—only better? Christian got to work in their kitchen, experimenting with flavors and textures, while his wife and children happily spent the summer indulging in ice cream and cookies. It quickly became clear they weren’t the only ones who loved the combination. Practically overnight, demand skyrocketed, and Christian found himself making hundreds of sandwiches every week to keep up with orders. And that’s how Nye’s Cream started.
Current and Future of Nye’s
In 2024, Christian decided it was time to sell and wanted to keep the local ice cream sensation alive. One of Nye’s first and most loyal customers, Robert Pickens—himself a chef and the owner of two other restaurants—proved to be the perfect inheritor. Robert and his wife, Leslie, were very familiar with both the business and the product, and they were eager to continue the legacy of Nye’s handcrafted ice cream creations. With a shared mission to expand the brand, they introduced new flavors and innovations.
In September 2024, Leslie and Robert opened a storefront for Nye’s called Stax Ice Cream Kitchen. As Wilmington’s first ice cream sandwich shop, Stax allows customers to build their own sandwiches with a selection of cookies, ice cream, toppings, and sauces. Looking ahead, they are committed to growing Nye’s while preserving its roots as a family- and chef-owned business, ensuring the beloved ice cream sandwiches continue to delight generations to come.
