As summer kicks off and we celebrate National Dairy Month in June, it’s the perfect time to spotlight LaMar Hinson, Founder of Landon’s Ices and Creams in the Town of La Plata. Nothing says summer quite like ice cream, especially when it’s homemade with simple, familiar ingredients.
Landon’s Ices and Creams is named after Hinson’s son, Landon. Hinson recalls, “My son, Landon, was about six years old, and when we would go out to get ice cream, he would get ill every time. Come to find out, he had a severe peanut allergy. I love ice cream and was trying to share that love with my son.” This inspired Hinson to create a safer, homemade version of their favorite treat.
A Homemade Solution
“When Landon was about 10,” says Hinson,” my wife bought me a KitchenAid stand mixer, and that’s when I started making ice cream at home. With it, I knew what was going into the product. It did not have any Polysorbate 80, any dyes, or peanuts, and everything was fresh.” In 2018, he started selling it wholesale and bought six additional KitchenAid mixer stands and ice cream bowls. Then, he could make multiple ice creams for a customer he was selling to. That started it all.
Family and friends loved the ice cream so much that they encouraged them to open a shop of their own. He tested his creations in the community by wholesaling them to restaurants throughout Prince Georges County. The support he received pushed them to take the leap into signing a lease for a shop in 2019 and opening in October that year in La Plata.
Ice Creams, Nondairy Ice Creams, and Water Ices
Landon’s sells ice cream, nondairy ice cream, and water ices in multiple flavors by waffle cone, cake cone, cup, pint, and quart. They’re all made in the store, in small batches, with real ingredients.
The water ices are made with real fruit, water, and sugar. Their water ices are Philadelphia style and have a smoother consistency than other grainy-style water ices.
For their nondairy ice creams, they use an oat milk base. Hinson shares, “With nondairy options, we started out with a coconut base, but coconut is a really strong flavor, and it limits you to chocolate, strawberry, and mint, which cover the coconut taste. The oat milk is more neutral, so we can expand the number of flavors.”
He has built a regular customer base and relationships with ice cream lovers of all kinds, including those with allergies who need to know the ingredients.
Ice Cream in the Winter
Though most people might be thinking about hot chocolate and cookies as the weather turns colder, Hinson says, “Because ice cream is high fat, you don’t notice the cold. It also helps normalize your internal temperature with the outside temperature.” They do stop selling their water ices in October, but they offer ice cream all year-round. Flavors can vary and include peppermint, sweet potato, and pumpkin ice cream. They also have eggnog ice cream, in both “naughty or nice” versions. Peppermint ice cream is actually sold year-round and named after the town mayor, Jeannine James. It’s her favorite flavor and called James Peppermint. Hinson says, “Mayor James was a big help to me in getting the business started.”
Business Resources
Hinson acknowledges the support from the Charles County Economic Development Department (EDD) during COVID-19. The EDD provided resources like pandemic-related grants for small businesses and the department’s newly formed Growth Advantage Program (BGAP). BGAP training was developed by the EDD to meet the needs of growing businesses in Charles County and to address business impacts due to COVID.
Hinson went through the BGAP training and says, “Being a part of that really transformed our business in terms of getting our processes and procedures locked in with our staff.” They have to train staff regularly and developed several training videos for things like, “How to scoop,” “How to do dishes,” and “How to make a sundae.”
Recently, Hinson took advantage of another Charles County business opportunity—adding Landon’s Ices and Creams to Charles County’s “With Love From Charles” gift card. Buying this card, residents and visitors can show love to local businesses like Landon’s by buying a gift card that is only redeemable to participating businesses. For local businesses, it’s a free and low-risk way to increase traffic, generate revenue, and market your offerings to a broader audience. Learn more here.
As summer begins, there’s no better time to visit Landon’s Ices and Creams. Located on La Plata’s main street, it’s just a short walk from the La Plata Farmers Market, making it a convenient stop on Wednesdays and Saturdays. With plenty of parking in the back, it’s easy to drop by and enjoy a homemade treat.
