OUR STORY

ABOUT US

Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream (C&B) is a premium ice cream maker in Lexington, Kentucky. What started as a simple dessert option in the back of Toa Green’s family restaurant, Thai Orchid Cafe, has since grown to a business with two scoop shops, 40+ employees, nationwide shipping through Goldbelly, and recognition through national press including PEOPLE Magazine, the New York Times, and Cooking Channel. Crank & Boom’s mission is to Create Joy, Ignite Laughter, and Inspire Compassion. This is accomplished through various community giving programs like FEED Backpack program and our Small Batch Club program that has raised over $56,000 since 2020 for local organizations. Crank & Boom is special, not only because it is the best ice cream around, but because of the good that C&B has been able to cultivate as a community builder and leader in Lexington and nationwide.

OUR MISSION

  • CREATE JOY

    Our mission is to bring joy to the lives of others. To make your day better in whatever way we can — with a smile, a treat, or a word of encouragement.

  • IGNITE LAUGHTER

    There is no better way to inject joy into someone’s life than laughter! We take our work seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

  • INSPIRE COMPASSION

    Our job as community leaders is not only to be compassionate towards our neighbors, but to also inspire others to do the same. Yes, we support some incredible causes, but we also work to amplify the voices of the unheard.

 
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HOW IT STARTED…

You know what pairs really well with Thai food? Coconut ice cream! That’s what owners Mike & Toa Green thought in 2011, when they were looking for a fun dessert option to serve in their family restaurant, Thai Orchid Cafe. They purchased a 2-quart Cuisinart home ice cream maker for $60 & started making small batches using the best local & exotic ingredients they could find.

 
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HOW IT’S GOING…

Now 10 years later, we are still churning away working to change the world one scoop at a time. We now have TWO storefront locations in Lexington, KY, ship nationwide through Goldbelly,

 
2015: Sue, Toa's Mom, has always been our biggest cheerleader

2015: Sue, Toa's Mom, has always been our biggest cheerleader

2015: We moved to Pasta Garage - Lexington Incubator Kitchen to produce all of our ice cream. HI LESME!

2015: We moved to Pasta Garage - Lexington Incubator Kitchen to produce all of our ice cream. HI LESME!

2013: Sampler Saturdays at Good Foods Co-Op

2013: Sampler Saturdays at Good Foods Co-Op

2011: One of the first flavors that we pack in pints for customers at Thai Orchid Cafe

2011: One of the first flavors that we pack in pints for customers at Thai Orchid Cafe

2012: Dessert Menu at Thai Orchid Cafe

2012: Dessert Menu at Thai Orchid Cafe

2011: The flavor that started it all...COCONUT ice cream was served with jackfruit at Thai Orchid Cafe

2011: The flavor that started it all...COCONUT ice cream was served with jackfruit at Thai Orchid Cafe

2011 - Our first batch of ice cream were made in this 2 quart Cuisinart machine

2011 - Our first batch of ice cream were made in this 2 quart Cuisinart machine

2012: The first Ice Cream flights were at Thai Orchid Cafe

2012: The first Ice Cream flights were at Thai Orchid Cafe

our story through the years

  • 1990 - SMILE OF SIAM IN FRANKFORT

  • 2005 - TSUNAMI RELIEF WORK IN INDIA

  • 2006 - THAI ORCHID CAFE IN LEXINGTON

  • 2008 - THE GREENS BUDDHIST BAPTIST WEDDING

  • 2011 - START MAKING ICE CREAM IN THE BACK OF THAI ORCHID CAFE

  • 2014 - START THAI& MIGHTY NOODLE BOWLS

  • 2015 - Open C&B on Manchester Street

  • 2017 - Open C&B at the Summit

  • 2020 - COVID HITS & WE MOVE TO CLAYS MILL