402 Creamery is back in Downtown Lincoln

Many were shocked when 402 Creamery announced on April 10, 2023 that they would be leaving the Historic Haymarket.

BY TESSA WISER

“We have some bittersweet news… our time in the Haymarket is coming to a close,” their Facebook post said. “BUT, we won’t be too far away at our new location in the Telegraph District.” 

402 Creamery closed its Haymarket location on April 16th and opened its Telegraph location on April 21, 2023. 

Owner Tyler Mannix started 402 Creamery in 2017 after his parents bought him an ice cream maker. Mannix received the machine as a wedding gift and in his words, the rest is history. 

“We’re on our sixth year,” Mannix said. 

Since moving to the Telegraph District, 402 Creamery has noticed a change in its customers. Free parking is available and outside seating in front of The Mill Tea and Coffee. 

“We’re about the same distance from [University of Nebraska-Lincoln], so we still get all our college kids,” Mannix said. “There’s been a lot more families coming down.” 

402 Creamery now has a bigger dining area for people to spread out and enjoy the colorful atmosphere. Mannix mentioned people are more inclined to sit inside and enjoy their sweet treat.

“[We’re] trying to make the best ice cream we can, while providing the best customer service that we can,” Mannix said. “We’re not buying other people’s ice cream and scooping it here.” 

402 Creamery makes all its ice cream at its south location and then distributes it to the other places around town. 

“We’re doing the entire process from start to finish,” Mannix said. “We’re creating unique flavors that people enjoy and [are] just trying to create an environment where you can get ice cream.” 

Some fan-favorite flavors include “Tiger Stripes”, a cream cheese ice cream with pieces of Oreo cookies and caramel swirls; and “Triple Threat”, a sweet cream ice cream with chunks of monster cookie dough, funfetti cookie dough, and chocolate chip cookie dough. 

All unique monthly flavors are created by the kitchen production team, where later the recipe is placed in a secret binder with all other 402 Creamery ice cream recipes. 

“We do a collaboration month,” Mannix said. “All five of our flavors showcase an ingredient that is from another small business.” 

402 Creamery has recently collaborated with Canyon Joe’s to use smoked candied bacon in their flavor “Breakfast for Dinner”, a limited edition ice cream whose proceeds go to the Food Bank. 

Other collaborations have used cookies from the Cookie Company, cheesecake bits from High Society Cheesecake, and coffee from 402 Creamery’s next-door neighbor, The Mill. 

“It’s just really fun to showcase other small businesses,” Mannix said. “[Small businesses in Lincoln are] doing some incredible stuff, and not everyone knows about them and hopefully we can bring some awareness to them by using an ingredient from them.” 

Mannix strives to partner with neighboring businesses to create out-of-the-box flavors that Lincolnites look forward to every month. 

402 Creamery is open Sunday through Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.
Check out the monthly rotating flavors here.

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