Nestled right near the water in the corner of Downtown Piermont is the Piermont Creamery, eagerly waiting for customers to walk through its doors and try its tasty treats. Before opening for the day, however, Lorraine Li starts her morning by making the ice cream that everyone enjoys.

"This is a small town, so I know a lot of people in the village, and I get to talk to them," she said. "They give me ideas and inspirations. They make special requests... usually, customers request new flavors, and I try to accommodate that. Or if I go travel or go to any place that I find some inspiration."

Owning an ice cream shop had always been a dream of Li's. Originally starting her career as a teacher, it wasn't until she saw an ad for a shop opening on Craigslist that she decided to officially make the career switch.

"I thought it was about time to live the life that I want, to go for it and take the risk," Li said.

Li opened up shop in Downtown Piermont in 2019 and then moved across the street to her current location just a few years later. No matter the spot, however, she knows customers will be lining right up through her door.

"I think people are very excited, especially children, that there's an ice cream shop in town," Li said. "It makes me happy when people come in and taste the ice cream, and they're happy, especially little kids. They have a smile on their face."

Some of those customers may also one day grow up and join the Piermont Creamery family to make it a full circle moment for Li.

"I have employees that I've known [since] they were little," she said. "Now, they work for us [as] teenagers. They were 8 [and] 9 years old. Now they're 15 [and] 16."

Piermont Creamery's original location is at 10 Roundhouse Rd. in Piermont. A second location also recently opened at 85 South Broadway in Nyack.