J.P. Licks

J.P. Licks

Company type	Private
Industry	Food and beverage
Founded	1981
Founder	Vincent Petryk, Michael Herbert
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts , United States
Area served	Greater Boston region, Massachusetts
Key people	Vincent Petryk (Founder and CEO)
Products	Ice cream, coffee, frozen yogurt, cakes, pies, cookies, baked goods

J.P. Licks is a Massachusetts-based ice cream chain featuring 17 outlets primarily situated in the Greater Boston region. The brand’s offerings encompass a wide variety of products such as ice cream, in-house roasted coffee since 1999, frozen yogurt, cakes, pies, cookies, and an assortment of baked goods including croissants and muffins. Its main office is located in Jamaica Plain, Boston, underscoring the company’s commitment to its local community and heritage.

Owner and founder

Vincent Petryk, the founder and current CEO of J.P. Licks, originally comes from Philadelphia and earned a psychology degree from Temple University. His professional journey started at Hillary's Homemade Ice Cream, where he advanced from dishwasher to lead ice cream maker and manager. This role deepened his appreciation for the emotional bond customers form with ice cream. After moving to Jamaica Plain, Petryk gained valuable restaurant management experience at Wendy’s before partnering with Michael Herbert to establish J.P. Licks in 1981. Both contributed $25,000 initially; Petryk eventually acquired Herbert’s stake.

Beginning close to his Jamaica Plain residence, the business rapidly outgrew its first site—initially distinguished by an open-kitchen layout—and relocated to larger facilities within JP. Since 1999, the company has operated its headquarters from a repurposed fire station nearby. Expansion efforts extended beyond Jamaica Plain with a notable store opening in Coolidge Corner, Brookline in 1988, which remains a flagship location. The chain reached its 17th store milestone in Andover, Massachusetts in 2019.

This trajectory highlights J.P. Licks’ deliberate approach to organic growth within select markets while preserving its strong local brand identity and product excellence.

Community service

J.P. Licks demonstrates ongoing support for community causes by contributing food items, gift cards, and organizing charitable events within its stores. Prominent initiatives include matching donations to the Starlight Foundation and allocating proceeds from $1 coffee sales on Veterans Day to the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans. Since 2011, it has collaborated with the Home for Little Wanderers through “J.P. Licks dollars” donation drives. In 2019, the company introduced an annual Sock Drive benefiting Rosie’s Place. It also sponsors local community gatherings such as JP Open Studios, the JP Music Festival, and the Andover Farmers Market.

The company’s artist program promotes local talent by displaying artwork in 16 out of its 17 locations without charging commissions. Featured artists include Sharif Muhammad, Ekua Holmes—whose work has been shown at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts—and Robin Abrahams (“Miss Conduct”), who embraced art during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. J.P. Licks partners with Boston cultural institutions like The Boch Center, Lyric Stage Company, Actors' Shakespeare Project, and Boston Book Festival to nurture the arts community, recognizing its positive influence on business development.

In 2021, Boston’s sole free Chess Club began hosting Thursday evening sessions at the Jamaica Plain J.P. Licks store, encouraging community interaction through casual chess games alongside ice cream and coffee.

The company mascot—a cow named Clementine—pays tribute to an early mentor of founder Vince, symbolizing the brand’s deep ties to community relationships.

Awards

J.P. Licks has been recognized with more than 400 accolades, including prestigious distinctions such as Boston magazine's “Best of Boston,” WBZ’s “A-List,” and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business of the Year,” highlighting its significant presence in the market and esteemed standing within the industry.

Locations

All J.P. Licks outlets are situated within a 20-mile radius of its Jamaica Plain headquarters, allowing for consistent deliveries from the central kitchen to uphold product freshness and streamline operations.

Current store locations include:

• Andover
  • Park Street
• Boston
  • Boylston Street
  • Charles Street
  • Chestnut Hill
  • Jamaica Plain
  • Mission Hill
  • Newbury Street
  • South Bay
  • South Boston
• Brookline
  • Coolidge Corner
• Cambridge
  • Harvard Square
• Dedham
  • Legacy Place
• Lynnfield
  • MarketStreet
• Newton
  • Newton Centre
• Somerville
  • Assembly Row
  • Davis Square
• Wellesley
  • Wellesley Square