By: Jasmine White, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
MERCHANTVILLE, N.J. – From an assortment of colorful, premium ice cream flavors to desirable cookie creations, Da’Villa’s Crème & Cookie does not disappoint.
This ice cream parlor, located in Merchantville offers a family oriented sweet treat shop that opens in the afternoon and closes on the later side. It is open seven days a week and all year long.
Marie Da’Villa, one of the owners, explained how a joke she made to her family became her reality as the company continues to grow after two years of operation.
“My husband and my son were in search of late night ice cream and they couldn’t find anything that was worth going to,” Da’Villa said. “I was just like ‘why don’t you just open your own one day?’”
She reached out to Basset’s Ice Cream and formed a relationship with the company, soon partnering with them in the current day.
Eddie Da’Villa, Marie Da’Villa’s husband, has run the business with her since their grand opening on April 24, 2023.
The interior of the establishment is warm and welcoming, offering seating, television and board games for families and friends to enjoy. The names of the owners’ children are plastered on the wall in the form of a crossword, shining light on their drive for starting their business.
In addition to the sweet shop side, Da’Villa’s is currently being expanded creating an entertainment area for toddlers to play in after acquiring a ‘soft play’ pass that would be good for one day of operation.
“[The expansion] will offer a little extra seating for people that come in groups and it will be a place for birthday parties as well,” Da’Villa said.
Merchantville welcomes small business owners and their initiatives in bringing places that can be enjoyed by the community as well as visitors to the little town.
“The town is lovely and they support us,” Da’Villa said, “It’s a walking town and kids are everywhere [because] we are between a bunch of schools.”
Da’Villa’s offer catering for events and parties, along with spreading the word of their business through their mobile ice cream truck and social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and FaceBook.
Da’Villa’s Crème & Cookie, located at 21 S. Centre St. in Merchantville, is planning on expansion in September, opening a new location in the Cherry Hill Mall according to their website davillascremeandcookie.com.
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