A sweet new spot opened its window for business Friday evening in downtown Seymour.
Lot Hill Dairy Farm is now selling gelato and other frozen treats at a carhop-style restaurant at the old Home Federal Bank drive-thru building, 222 W. Second St.
The eatery offers 16 different flavors of gelato — which includes one seasonal flavor — as well as Big Red and root beer floats, milkshakes and banana splits.
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Jon Claycamp, who runs the farm with his father, Bob, said customers can turn any flavor of gelato into a milkshake, and toppings also are available.
The farm, which has operated north of Cortland since the mid-1960s, has expanded its production of gelato in recent times.
Gelato looks and tastes like ice cream but isn’t exactly the same.
Both treats contain cream, milk and sugar, but ice cream has more cream and typically uses more egg yolks.
“It has to do with the amount of fat. By law, to call it ice cream, it has to be 10% to 25% fat, while gelato is 4% to 9% fat,” Claycamp said. “Ours is all between 4% and 5%. We have always called it gelato, and people say, ‘What are you talking about?’ I just tell them it’s ice cream. A lot of people just call gelato ice cream. With the recipes we have, you won’t tell any difference in taste, I think.”
One of the unique features of the shop will be that customers can order through the old PA systems in the bank lanes and send payment via capsules to where the workers and ice cream is stowed.
“All the PA and vacuum systems are working like they did with the bank,” Claycamp said. “I’m going to leave my trailer in the last bay, but with the third bay, they will be able to drive up and order through the PA. They can pay through the vacuum, and then we will run their order out to them carhop style.”
Throughout the winter, the teller’s window will be used as a drive-thru. Claycamp said he is considering making the main window walkup only during the warmer months.
While Lot Hill has made frozen treats over the years, it has picked up in popularity over the years.
“I think it’s because it’s fresh and local,” Claycamp said. “I think that makes it automatically taste better. I get a lot of input from people. I take some of it with a grain of salt and some of it to heart and fix it.”
Claycamp said they started officially making and selling it at their farm cabin two years ago and began selling the product at festivals in 2018.
At the Jackson County Fair, Claycamp said he goes through 280 to 300 gallons of gelato. At the Seymour Oktoberfest, he sold 100 gallons.
While it depends on demand, Claycamp is shooting to sell 100 gallons per month during the winter and 100 gallons per week in the summer.
Claycamp said family and friends will be working the shop to start, but he anticipates hiring more help in the summer.
While Lot Hill also is known for its cheese products, they will not be sold at the new restaurant.
Pints of Lot Hill gelato and other products from the farm can be purchased at the cabin on the farm, 10025 N. County Road 375E.
Claycamp said the downtown location will carry special flavors of ice cream that are not sold at the farm.
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Lot Hill Dairy Farm has opened a restaurant selling sweet frozen treats at 222 W. Second St., Seymour, in the old Home Federal Bank drive-thru building.
Hours of operation
Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
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