Ample Hills Founders Fired Months Into Relaunching the Business | Eater NY

"Founded in 2011 in Prospect Heights, this ice cream shop exploded to 17 locations and became known as a top ice cream destination, but by 2020 the operators filed for bankruptcy and the founders were forced to sell the business to Schmitt Industries for $1 million; Schmitt then ran it into the ground, closing all 12 remaining locations amid allegations of unpaid rent. After a spring relaunch attempt, founders Jackie Cuscuna and Brian Smith say they were later fired by the very investors who had helped buy back the business, a decision they attribute to clashes with CEO Lisa Teach, though investor Norm Brodsky told Inc. that the reason for their termination surpassed issues with the CEO. Smith admits, 'We did a little too much trusting and not enough verifying,' and regrets proceeding with the contract as written, while Cuscuna says it wasn’t just a job but their life’s work — the communities, the brands, the ice cream, and the creativity." - Emma Orlow