A Scoop of History

Back in July of 1982, a tiny ice cream shop on Ceres Street in the seacoast town of Portsmouth, NH opened it's doors, and instantly changed the local dessert scene. Tucked along the waterfront, this little shop quickly built a big reputation. Lines stretched down the street as people from all over New England came for a taste of what many were calling the richest, creamiest, most over-the-top ice cream they’d ever had. Packed with flavor and loaded with “stuff,” Annabelle’s became the kind of place you couldn’t visit just once.

A Tradition That Keeps Growing

Nearly 40 years later, Lewis E. Palosky's legacy carries on “We use only the highest-quality natural ingredients,” he would say. “Our ice cream freezer churns out some of the very best ice cream you can find anywhere.” And it shows. Annabelle’s has racked up awards, including the prestigious Buyers Choice Award from the Northeast Food Service & Lodging Expo.

One of the standout winners? Yellow Brick Road the golden vanilla ice cream swirled with caramel and packed with roasted and praline pecans. “People were flocking to our booth just to get a taste,” Palosky recalls.

Flavors Worth Traveling For

From classics to creative showstoppers, Annabelle’s lineup is full of flavors that make you stop mid-bite. Favorites include:

Cashew Caramel Cluster – caramel ice cream with roasted cashews and chocolate chunks

Swiss Chocolate Avalanche – Swiss chocolate ice cream overflowing with pecans, walnuts, chocolate-covered almonds, chocolate chunks, and white chocolate swirls

Mint Summer’s Night Dream – mint chocolate ice cream with dark and white chocolate chunks

And that’s just the start. With 30 flavors of ice cream, four frozen yogurts, and three fruit sorbets—and new concoctions always in the works—there’s always something to discover. “I’ve had to let my belt out a few notches,” Palosky joked. “But it’s worth every spoonful.”

From One Small Shop to a New England Staple

The original Ceres Street shop is still thriving, and Annabelle’s continues to expand. You’ll also find our ice cream served in restaurants, specialty stores, and dipping shops throughout New England.

Our reputation keeps growing, for quality, friendly service, and real value, Whether someone orders a single scoop or hand packed pint, they get the same thing: our best.