By Janee Law

jlaw@longislandergroup.com

Diane Mondello, owner of Rocking Horse Ices & Ice Cream Treatery, was the manager when the shop opened in 2013, but has become owner of the business.

As customers walk into Rocking Horse Ices & Ice Cream Treatery, they pass a white rocking horse that sits in the windowsill with a pink saddle on its back to match the interior, which is dressed in pink and white vertical stripes and a mirror that parallels the counter top. At the quaint shop there’s no need for space since faces are usually pressed to the glass window, viewing the variety of ice cream flavors offered.

Owner Diane Mondello, of Commack, said that customers love the small size of the shop. Tiny but cute, she added, the shop has made a name for itself as “the cutest little ice cream shop in Northport.”

“They think it’s very cute, it’s like a dream coming in, and the kids love the rocking horse,” Mondello, 52, said.

Located at 112 Main Street, the shop opened in 2013, replacing what was Incredible Ices.

At the time, Mondello opened the shop with friend JoBeth Meltzer. Mondello was then the manager, but she took over as owner in September 2015.

For the first time, Mondello had the shop stay open year round, including holidays, and said she hopes to do it again.

With 28-30 different flavors of ice cream, popular flavors are hotel black bottom pie, salted caramel, moose tracks and Superman. For ice cream cones, prices vary $3.60-$5.60.

Rocking Horse Ices & Ice Cream Treatery in Northport offers 28-30 different flavors of ice cream, 16 flavors of ices, nine flavors of gelato, and eight flavors of mini melts. It also offers macarons and bubble tea.

The shop also offers 16 flavors of ices, nine flavors of gelato, mini melts, macarons and bubble tea.

The cream drink, which is Taiwanese tea-based, has tapioca pearls in it called bobas. Mondello said it’s very trendy and the shop is one of the first places on Long Island that offers it, with 16 different flavors.

The mini melts are also a trendy item. With eight flavors, including chocolate, vanilla and mint chocolate chip, Mondello said customer favorites are cotton candy and rainbow punch.

The shop sells brands like Lemon Ice King of Corona Ices, Spumoni Ice from L&B Spumoni, Baci, and Schrafft’s & Sedutto, which Mondello said makes the business stand out.

Now that the warm weather has arrived, the shop has prepared for the season.

Staffing 10 employees for the summer, Mondello said she is looking forward to the season since “no one comes in upset for ice cream.”