About

At the Cranford Vanilla Bean Creamery, ice cream isn’t just a treat, it’s a tradition. Every scoop we serve is made fresh in-house using only the highest-quality ingredients, with over 32 flavors rotating regularly to keep things exciting. We love getting creative in the kitchen and dreaming up new combinations to make sure there’s always something fresh and fun to discover on each visit.

The Vanilla Bean Creamery was founded in 2010 by Ralph Kopelman, whose love for ice cream started as a teen working behind the counter of his father’s traditional candy shop in Queens, NY. Determined to bring his own vision of a premium, small-batch ice cream shop to life, Ralph taught himself the art of ice cream making, perfecting recipes one scoop at a time, and brought his dream to the heart of downtown Cranford.

When Mike and Sherri Bogdan moved to Cranford in 2016, the Vanilla Bean Creamery quickly became a favorite family stop. Countless ice cream outings with their two daughters created sweet memories that made the store feel like a second home.

In 2024, after 14 wonderful years, Ralph passed the scoop to Mike and Sherri, entrusting them with his beloved recipes and his passion for ice cream. Sherri quickly learned the craft from Ralph and fully renovated the shop, upgrading to state-of-the-art equipment while preserving the heart and soul of the Creamery. Today, they’re proud to carry on Ralph’s legacy, serving handcrafted, super-premium ice cream with a smile to the Cranford community and beyond.