The University of Delaware's UDairy Creamery will host a block party on the 800 block of Market Street in Wilmington to celebrate the opening of its new UDairy Creamery Market storefront from noon-2 p.m., Tuesday, May 23.

Free ice cream will be available during the two-hour window, and there will be entertainment, including an ice cream-themed poetry reading by UD Associate in Arts Program students.

The downtown Wilmington location, located at 815 North Market Street, directly across the street from Wilmington’s Grand Opera House and managed by LeeAnne Ahamad, is the UDairy Creamery’s first off-campus location. 

Students from UD’s Associate in Arts Program will operate the new UDairy Creamery Market, making the ice cream on site from locally sourced milk, serving customers, supervising the storefront and developing the marketplace into a sustainable business.

In addition to the creamery’s ice cream products, honey, wool blankets and other items produced by UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will be available for purchase. The farm-to-table menu will include burgers, gourmet grilled cheese, salads and other items straight from the University’s organic garden.

The University partnered with Wilmington-based developer Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) to develop the project. BPG owns the site and supported a student-run feasibility study to assess the viability of a creamery marketplace.

Just like its sister location in Newark, UD students will staff the UDairy Creamery Market, gaining exposure to food science and business management practices.

Students will have a very short commute from their UD Associate in Arts Program courses, held both at UD’s Downtown Center, just around the corner, and on the Delaware Technical Community College campus a few blocks away. More than 400 Associate in Arts Program students combined attend classes at the two campuses in downtown Wilmington.