U. MILFORD TWP., Pa. – A new Lehigh County business is serving up sundaes, milkshakes, and other chilled treats alongside cheesesteaks, smash burgers, and other savory eats at a prominent property that has welcomed ice cream lovers for decades.
The Crow’s Nest Creamery, an ice cream shop and fast-casual eatery, held a soft opening on Tuesday at 5130 Chestnut St in Upper Milford Township, co-owner Stacy Kiefer told 69 News.
The Emmaus area property is the same spot where TG Countryside, a longtime, family-owned ice cream shop, closed in September 2025.
The property, at Routes 29 and 100, changed hands several times since original owners Leo and Wilma Kressley opened Kressley’s Cree-Mee Freez at the site in 1957.
Kiefer and her friend, Jessica Bogert, purchased the property in May with a goal of switching careers and fulfilling a dream of operating their own community-focused ice cream shop.
Kiefer previously worked alongside her husband at their Dent & Detail Shop, a business offering automotive services such as paintless dent removal, hail damage repairs, interior and exterior detailing, ceramic coating, wheel repair, and window tinting, located just down Chestnut Street.
The Crow’s Nest Creamery is located at 5130 Chestnut St in Upper Milford Township
Ryan Kneller
“I kept driving past this place – the old Countryside ice cream shop, and I started contemplating about it,” Kiefer said.
“I was looking to get out of my husband’s business because it just wasn’t for me. So, I kept thinking about the Countryside property more and more, and then Jess and I were sending texts to each other that we should just buy it because she was looking to get out of the daycare business. Originally, we were just joking about buying it, but then it turned into reality.”
With help from their husbands, Kiefer and Bogert spent the past several months extensively renovating the decades-old building, adding new flooring, counters, equipment, furniture, wall paint, and more.
Outside, they also implemented updates, including repainting the façade and resealing the parking lot.
Ryan Kneller
“We gutted it,” Kiefer said. “Nearly everything is brand new.”
The Crow’s Nest Creamery is in its soft-opening phase, which should continue over the next couple of weeks, Kiefer said.
The shop is open until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and it will temporarily close on Thursday, Oct. 1, before reopening to the public on Friday, Oct. 2, Kiefer said.
Breakfast will be served from 6 to 11 a.m., and lunch and dinner will also be served on Friday, Kiefer said.
The Crow’s Nest Creamery’s regular hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (staying open until 10 p.m. during the summer), but hours during the business’ soft-opening period will vary, Kiefer said.
Individuals should monitor The Crow’s Nest Creamery’s pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Ryan Kneller
“We had our soft opening for friends and family on Tuesday, and we’re continuing our soft opening for the public today,” Kiefer told 69 News on Wednesday.
“We plan to do a big grand opening in about two weeks, but right now, we’re using our soft-opening phase to help get our staff fully trained and accustomed to everything. We’re looking to work out any kinks and just ask that everyone please be patient with us as we get off the ground.”
The Crow’s Nest Creamery features 24 rotating flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, with current options including chocolate chip cookie dough, blueberry cheesecake, tiramisu, pistachio, pumpkin, and more.
There are also vegan and no-sugar-added options.
“We eventually plan to make our own ice cream on-site, but for now, we’re using another brand as we get everything up and running,” Kiefer said.
Soft-serve ice cream is also available, and individuals can customize their selections with a choice of cup or cone (sugar cone, cake cone, waffle cone, waffle bowl, Oreo sugar cone, gluten-free cake cone or gluten-free sugar cone) and around three dozen topping choices, including various fruit, candy, sauces, sprinkles and more.
Ryan Kneller
Other chilled treats include ice cream flights, milkshakes, soda floats, build-your-own acai bowls, and build-your-own and specialty sundaes such as banana split, CMP, warm brownie, and brown sugar apple cobbler.
There are also “Nest Specialties” such as “The Salty Nest” (vanilla soft-serve, coated in crushed pretzels, dipped in chocolate, finished with caramel drizzle and served in a cake cone) and dirty sodas such as the “Cawsmic Crush” (Sprite, cherry lime syrup, vanilla syrup and creamy cold foam) and “Nestflix & Chill” (root beer, marshmallow drizzle, vanilla syrup, toasted marshmallow syrup and creamy cold foam).
Savory eats include local bagels, breakfast sandwiches, hash browns, and more for breakfast, along with a wide array of appetizers, sides, and handhelds for lunch and dinner.
Menu highlights include appetizers and sides such as fried pickles, corn nuggets, cheesesteak egg rolls, mac & cheese bites, pierogies and sweet potato fries; smash burgers such as “The Crispy Crow” (American cheese, crispy onion ring) and “The Nest Egg” (American cheese, fried egg); and cheesesteaks, hot dogs and sandwiches such as a cheese dog, country sausage sandwich, fried or grilled chicken sandwich and Black Diamond cheesesteak (premium chopped steak, grilled onions, peppers and choice of cheese).
Ryan Kneller
Locally sourced ingredients and products include bagels from 3 Men & A Bagel, coffee from Firehouse Coffee, baked goods from Kollar’s Confections and meat from Top of the Grill.
“We really like to support other small businesses and have the entire community involved as much as possible,” Kiefer said.
The Crow’s Nest Creamery, which will operate year-round, features seating for around 25 guests inside, with additional seating available at outdoor picnic tables.
For the latest updates, including additional soft opening hours, follow The Crow’s Nest Creamery on Facebook and Instagram.