Ample Hills
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Ice cream |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Brian Smith, Jackie Cuscuna |
| Defunct | December 19, 2022 |
| Fate | Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020; acquired and reopened in 2023 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Lisa Teach (CEO, appointed 2023) |
| Products | Ice cream |
Number of employees | 0 (2020) |
Ample Hills is a United States-based ice cream enterprise established in 2010 by Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna, initially operating as a pushcart. The brand's inaugural retail location debuted in 2011 in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, where it sold out 130 gallons of ice cream within four days. Over time, the business grew into a prominent New York City chain, with additional outlets at Disney World and in Los Angeles.
On March 15, 2020, Ample Hills terminated its entire workforce and sought protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing delays in factory construction, financial losses, and internal management mistakes. In June 2020, Schmitt Industries purchased the company for $1 million; the original founders departed one month afterward. Despite this acquisition, Schmitt Industries shuttered all stores by December 19, 2022, due to issues related to rent and operational costs.
In March 2021, Smith and Cuscuna initiated a new ice cream business called the Social, supported by investors such as Norm Brodsky. With backing from these financiers, they reacquired Ample Hills for $150,000 in June 2023 and appointed CEO and investor Lisa Teach. By late 2023, conflicts with Teach resulted in the founders being removed from their positions.
The trajectory of Ample Hills, including its successes and setbacks, has been analyzed in multiple Harvard Business School case studies authored by Thomas Eisenmann.