Twenty years ago, Todd Blount wanted to open a clam shack. That dream led to the creation of Blount Clam Shack — a super popular waterfront eatery on Water Street in Warren. 

Now he is setting his sights on opening a family-first, community-focused restaurant in Barrington. 

Blount, a lifelong Barrington resident whose family roots run deep in the community, is planning to open Barrington Creamery this winter. The restaurant will anchor the shopping plaza located on County Road across from Barrington Town Hall. The space had been home to a restaurant with a very similar name.

Blount said Barrington Creamery will offer a number of familiar menu items: hot dogs on grilled buns, cheeseburgers sandwiched between a grilled cheese, buy-one get-one ice cream shakes on Mondays. In addition, Barrington Creamery will feature popular menu items from Blount Fine Foods, including some of their soups. He said the menu will also be crafted with healthy dining options. 

Barrington Creamery will be geared toward families, Blount said, adding that there will also be a lower-cost single item menu for kids. 

It is all by-design, said Blount. He can remember when he was a kid growing up in Barrington, riding his bike all over town. He listed some of the popular destinations, including the old Ben & Franklin store that had been located in the shopping center next to Almac’s. Blount said he wants to offer local kids a Barrington restaurant with menu items they can afford. 

‘By the community’

Barrington Creamery may be Todd Blount’s brainchild, but many of the restaurant details are coming from the community.

For weeks, Blount and his team have been reaching out to residents for their input on everything from the new restaurant’s logo to possible menu items, and more. 

“My team thinks I’m crazy,” Blount said.

But his goal remains constant: Barrington Creamery will be “By the community… for the community.”

Blount said Barrington Creamery’s Facebook page — it has more than 1,000 followers — is the landing pad for much of the brainstorming. When he wanted to create a logo for the restaurant, he shared a post asking for suggestions. He received 320 responses in a matter of hours. Blount put those suggestions into AI. He then posted images of the finalists on the social media page. 

A recent post to the Barrington Creamery Facebook page included photos of different lunch and dinner options with the question: “What are your Creamery long time lunch or dinner favorites? (This is not what you want to see new; that will be later…) What was your standard order?”

Blount said people were quick to share their thoughts. He said he plans to continue posting opportunities for feedback from the public. 

Blount said future customers can be confident in knowing that great service will be a constant. Much like the Blount Clam Shack, Barrington Creamery will look to locals when it is time to hire, Blount said. 

The Blount team is still working on creating distinctive features for the creamery, such as offering free ice cream cones to youth sports teams when they win championships or possibly having a special item for a customer celebrating a birthday. 

“It’s fun,” Blount said, about the creation process. 

When will it open?

Blount is excited to open Barrington Creamery, but added “We’re not in a hurry. We’re looking to do it right.”

The plan, Blount said, is to have a soft opening in Feb. 2027 and then “really be  cranking by the spring.” He said the interior of the County Road retail space needs to be completely rebuilt.