By Mackenzie Edwards, Sports Editor
The American Dream: the belief that anyone can come to the United States to be anyone and accomplish anything they want to do. This ideology is no exception for Lukasz Chrzanowski and Basia Iinicka.
Chrzanowski and Iinicka opened Holy Cow Creamery – a local ice cream shop – in the spring of 2021. They’re one of the few places on the Outer Banks that serve homemade ice cream, yet this is just one of the things that makes Holy Cow unique.
The two friends moved from Poland to the Outer Banks on a J1 visa in 2003. After spending a couple years on the island, Chrzanowski and Iinicka decided to make the permanent move to the United States.
Over the years, the two have worked several jobs prior to owning the ice cream shop. Today, both Chrzanowski and Iinicka work frontline care jobs as a KDH lifeguard and a registered nurse, respectively.
Despite loving their daytime jobs, they discovered ice cream was their true passion.
“Making ice cream was my dream. I grew up in the same beach town like we live in now, but it was in Poland,” Chrzanowski said. “That’s why I always wanted to open an ice cream shop.”
After opening Holy Cow, Iinicka continued to work as a nurse during the day. Afterwards, she goes to the shop to make ice cream at night. This provided her with a change of pace.
“It’s just refreshing to come here because as much as I love nursing still, this is a happy environment. This is where you can be more creative,” Iinicka said.
Iinicka and Chrzanowski came up with dozens of innovative flavors over the summer and are finding inspiration everywhere. Their flavors range all over the place from classics like the Cookie Monster (blue ice cream with Chips Ahoy, OREO, and cookie dough pieces,) holiday specials like orange gingerbread and even a flavor inspired by local coffee shop Front Porch Cafe.
“I grew up baking and cooking and indulging in all kinds of sweets. A lot of times I was inspired by things like desserts from childhood, or any trips I had gone on,” Iinicka said.
Holy Cow prides itself upon quality ice cream and customer service.
“We love ice cream. We love eating it, making it, and serving it to people,” Iinicka said.
Driving past Holy Cow’s parking lot in the evening, you’d never be able to tell it was a new business. People are lined up from the door to the beach road waiting to get their ice cream.
“It’s been busy. We’ve had some challenges, but overall we couldn’t be happier and more grateful for the wonderful season we had,” Iinicka said.
Holy Cow has remained open through the fall, with plans to close at some point this winter to get ready for what promises to be another busy spring and summer ahead.
Junior Mackenzie Edwards can be reached at [email protected].
