Connecticut ice cream business brings ‘nostalgia’ to events with 1960s military van

A restored 1960 International Harvester van that once transported Air Force troops in New Mexico is ready to roll from Main Street Creamery & Cafe as an ice cream catering van for weddings and other big events.

Business owner Michael Clarke, a lover of “breathing new life” into old vehicles and other items, said the catering van is about more than ice cream and sweet toppings.

“It is unique and it adds something to the event,” he said. “It just goes hand in hand with ice cream because it’s nostalgic. Old vehicles bring back memories of a simpler time.”

Although his van was used to transport troops, the Metro model manufactured in Bridgeport was commonly used to deliver bread and milk, he said.

Clark restored the van with the guidance and skill of Mark Tower, who then owned Shoreline Metal Services in East Haven but has since sold the company.

“I took the job because it’s a very unique van,” Tower said. “When you look at one of those old TV shows, you can (see it) drive by in the background.”

Tower said people will be drawn to the van. Clarke said it’s happened already.

“I can tell he wants to do great things with the community, and it’s a great vehicle to do it with,” Tower said.

Together they replaced the rusted metal, took the body apart, painted the old van and fashioned a serving window of metal out of the original body rather than just cutting a hole and popping in a newly manufactured piece.

Inside the van are metal shelves, a sink, refrigerator and freezer.

“It was a big project, but we got a lot done in a short period of time,” Clarke said. “One of the things I like about old cars is it makes people happy to see them.”

The pristine sky blue van — its old body now seemingly flawless — had its inaugural gig recently at Wethersfield High School for a fundraiser to benefit Ukraine. Clarke donated the profits to the cause.

“The ice cream was very popular. It was a hit,” said Sondra Blanzaco, a tutor at the school and producer for the drama program who helped run the event. “They’re a great business. They do a lot for the community, and they’re an integral part of Wethersfield.”

Community is what it’s all about for Clarke, a former high school English teacher who stresses that his family owns the business, and that includes wife Kathy, an educator, and their three children, Owen, 13, Jack, 11 and Lily, 7.

Clarke taught for 10 years and felt it was time for a career change when they bought the business six seasons ago.

“This business became available,” close to where the family lives, and he remembered that son Owen once wrote in a preschool paper that he wanted to be an “ice cream man” when he grew up.

“Everyone who walks through the door wants to be there,” unlike high school, he said of the business.

The family isn’t going to get wealthy off the ice cream van, as it doesn’t go on the highway and is tricky to drive, so gigs will be limited to Wethersfield and bordering towns.

“This van drives like an old delivery van with a lot of weight in the back,” he said. “It’s an adventure (to drive).”

The Clarkes have been catering events since they took over the creamery, but previously served from a cart that needed to be transported by a trailer.

“Restoring the van and using it simplifies things for us and was a good fit for my love of classic cars,” Clarke said.

The catering ice cream packages vary, from $120 to have ice cream dropped off to $7.50-$9.50 per guest for full service that can include cones, sundaes or a make your own sundae bar.

The creamery carries more than 50 flavors of ice cream that is made locally for them and includes vegan, gluten free, low fat and low sugar varieties.

As for the van model’s origins, Harvester is an old American company that made tractors and trucks and partnered with Metropolitan Body Co. in Bridgeport, Clarke said.

Clarke said he loves that the creamery is a “social hub” in town where families meet other families and bring their dogs.

“It makes me happy to see people happy and be able to support the town,” he said.