"I used to be a dental hygienist and him, an accountant," Chou Wong said on social media.
She admitted that quitting their day jobs to start a business was going to be risky, but it was a risk that was going to take more than just luck.
"I wanted something more and convinced him to take a leap of faith. I'm not a chef. I just put together ice cream flavors that I think will work," Chou Wong said.
Milk + Sugar Creamery opened its doors on Westheimer Road on Jan. 19, 2019.
Five years later, Houston's ice cream enthusiasts who crave unique flavors have been supporting this locally owned artisan ice cream shop enough for them to open two more locations, one in the Heights and one in West University Place that they're aiming to open by the spring.
"I feel like Houston has embraced us and they do understand kind of what we're doing," Perry Wong said.
Perry Wong said his wife is the one who comes up with all the ice cream flavors that are on the menu. The one request that they ask of their patrons is the same mantra that is on their Montrose shop's wall: "Life is too short for plain vanilla."
"Five years ago, we look back and time has kind of just really flown by. Although the day-to-day and week-to-week as a business owners is always so hectic, but I really can't believe that it's been five years," Perry Wong said.
Respecting the craft
Trusting their tastebuds means that guests can indulge in all ice creams and mix-ins that are made in-house and unique to Milk + Sugars unapologetic theme: not plain vanilla.
Whether it's coffee and pretzel flavors as an ode to their Brooklyn roots or seasonal flavors like black sesame ice cream for Halloween or strawberry ice cream with chocolate flakes for Valentine's Day, Perry Wong said offering unique flavors fits the bill of who they are as ice cream lovers and the vision they had for opening their own shop.
"I'm very happy how we stuck to our guns," Perry Wong said.
The backstory
Perry Wong said they were drawn to the Montrose area in 2019 as the location for their first ice cream shop not only because they spent a lot of time there, but also because the neighborhood appealed to customers who would be open-minded to the ice cream they were going to offer.
"They're open-minded and like to try new cuisines. We figured it would be the perfect place to launch Milk + Sugar," Perry Wong said.
Fast forward to January 2024, and Perry Wong said he noticed a lot more ice cream shops have opened up in the area. While he said he doesn't take credit for the sweet tooth shops opening in the neighborhood, he said he feels like Houston is catching on.
"We are always super appreciative of everyone who continues to support us," Perry Wong said.
Get involved
A birthday cake flavored ice cream will be available in January at both its Montrose and Heights locations in honor of the business's anniversary.
- 1848 Westheimer Road, Houston
- www.milkandsugarcreamery.com
