Sprinkled on Main: Here's the scoop on Newmarket's new ice cream parlor

Aqeel Hisham, Portsmouth Herald
·3 min read

NEWMARKET — Main Street just got a little sweeter with the opening of Sprinkled on Main, an ice cream parlor that promises to “dish out the sprinkles.”

Sonny and Cassy Vasques, the culinary duo behind Ginger and Clove and North of NOLA, opened the shop earlier this month at 80 Main Street. The menu features classic hand-scooped flavors and inventive milkshakes.

“We’re just glad to be a part of Newmarket,” said Sonny. “It’s a welcoming town. We have been shown a lot of support since we’ve been here.”

Winnacunnet High School juniors Brooks Nabors, Briana Tully and Aydin Welch work the counter at Sprinkled on Main in Newmarket.
Winnacunnet High School juniors Brooks Nabors, Briana Tully and Aydin Welch work the counter at Sprinkled on Main in Newmarket.

The couple said they got the idea to open the shop after many visits to the now-closed Savannah Kitchen. While they enjoyed dining out in Newmarket, they often found themselves journeying beyond the town in pursuit of the perfect post-dinner ice cream treat.

So, when the 80 Main Street location became available, the couple jumped at the opportunity.

The Vasqueses revamped the venue with pink walls, decor mimicking the playful drips of melting ice cream, and countertop seating that offers a view of the bustling street.

Sprinkled on Main, an ice cream parlor, recently opened its doors at 80 Main St. in Newmarket. The parlor is the brainchild of Sonny and Cassy Vasques, who also own Ginger and Clove and North of NOLA in Hampton.
Sprinkled on Main, an ice cream parlor, recently opened its doors at 80 Main St. in Newmarket. The parlor is the brainchild of Sonny and Cassy Vasques, who also own Ginger and Clove and North of NOLA in Hampton.

When customers enter the shop, they are welcomed with a neon sign that reads “Life is Better with Sprinkles.”

“I like the idea of ‘You’ve been sprinkled!’” Cassy said about the name of the shop. “So, when people leave here, they’ve been sprinkled. They’ve been sent out to the world happy, and then spread their happiness on to others.”

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What’s on the menu at Sprinkled on Main?

Sonny said the parlor serves ice cream flavors from Gifford’s Ice Cream from Maine and Richardson’s Ice Cream from Massachusetts.

They offer 18 flavors, including classic favorites, toasted coconut, rocky road, and green monster, or what Sonny called a “chocolate chip mint on steroids.”

Sprinkled on Main serves ice cream flavors from Gifford’s Ice Cream from Maine and Richardson’s Ice Cream from Massachusetts.
Sprinkled on Main serves ice cream flavors from Gifford’s Ice Cream from Maine and Richardson’s Ice Cream from Massachusetts.

The store also has dairy-free options such as chocolate almond yogurt and mango sorbet as a vegan option. Sonny said he plans to add more flavors for those with diet restrictions.

The Chocoholic features chunks of brownie, chocolate wafer, a castle of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.
The Chocoholic features chunks of brownie, chocolate wafer, a castle of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

Sprinkled on Main’s main attraction, according to Sonny, are its shakes.

They offer six different flavors, including Sonny’s favorite, the Chocoholic (a chocolate milkshake with chunks of brownie, chocolate wafer, a castle of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles).

Other homemade shakes include Sprinkle Me Pink, Cookie Monster, Mud Bath, Over The Rainbow and Show Me The Dough.

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Sprinkled on Main off to a sweet start

Sprinkled on Main is quickly becoming a local favorite, drawing in customers even in its first few weeks of opening.

The shop employs three Winnacunnet High School juniors, Briana Tully, Aydin Welch and Brooks Nabors. They said the Vasqueses have created a fun working environment for them.

“We carpool to work after school,” said Tully. “We look forward to it and we have fun doing it.”

Tully said he already has a few ideas for new milkshakes, including Shake That Cake (a birthday cake milkshake) and Want Some S’More (a s'mores milkshake).

Sprinkled on Main, an ice cream parlor, recently opened its doors at 80 Main St., offering customers a "playful mix" of ice cream flavors and milkshakes.
Sprinkled on Main, an ice cream parlor, recently opened its doors at 80 Main St., offering customers a "playful mix" of ice cream flavors and milkshakes.

Sonny said his business model at all of his restaurants is to employ local teens, teaching them how to run a business.

“We take kids, and we turn them into managers, we turn them into leaders,” he said. “Everybody who works for me – Ginger and Clove, and at NOLA – continued to move up the ladder.”

Peering into the future, Sonny envisions Sprinkled on Main becoming a cherished local staple.

“I’m not looking to expand this,” he said. “Me and my wife wanted an ice cream shop…I’ve had so many people enjoy such a great scoop of ice cream right here and have great conversations… That's what it’s about.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sprinkled on Main: New ice cream parlor opens in downtown Newmarket