Milkshakes and malts are also popular menu items. Phil Kring said that customers like to experiment with flavors when ordering shakes. Another dish called the Eternal Colonel( taking its name from longtime residents of Richmond) is a specialty at Poppy’ s.
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A lot of people are coming in and celebrating things with that item( The Eternal Colonel). It’ s eight scoops of ice cream in this huge glass bowl. And it’ s loaded down with toppings.
- Phil Kring
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The hot fudge cakes at Poppy’ s are the same special recipe used back at Cowboys in Irvine. Elizabeth Kring’ s mother makes them at Poppy’ s herself. One customer compared them to the cakes at beloved- and mostly closed-diner chain Jerry’ s.
“ It’ s a good hot fudge cake. It’ s good ice cream. It’ s just as close to the old Jerry’ s restaurant as I’ ve ever had... It’ s very delicious and very different. Eat at Poppy’ s, they’ re fabulous,” said Stephanie Liby.
The Kring’ s have stayed thrilled and very busy with the amount of support the community has shown them since opening. Phil noted that he’ s surprised by the amount of foot traffic that Water Street gets- especially when class is in session at EKU. Some members of the community, like the aforementioned Liby, have also expressed enthusiasm at having the ice cream shop downtown.
“ I think it’ s the way to go. Main Street and all around this area needs growth. It needs good places like this that we can all go around to enjoy our town,” Liby said.
Bringing a space downtown for people to celebrate various occasions has been a goal for the Kring Family with Poppy’ s. One that they seem to be fulfilling.
“ We were looking to provide a place for the community to come together and celebrate... We’ ve had so many people come here for their birthdays, for anniversaries, after softball teams have had big wins. They’ re coming here even after practice,” Phil Kring said.
There are big plans for Poppy’ s going forward. They’ ll have several new seasonal flavors for the fall and Christmas coming soon. They’ re also experimenting with making their own ice cream flavors in house. While they aren’ t certain how much demand there will be for ice cream in colder winter months like January and February, Phil Kring said that they hope to remain open through as much of the year as possible. Ultimately, the family is just happy that they got to stay in Richmond.
“ This city has always been home to me. This is where my daughters were born. This is where they went to school. One is still in school,” Phil Kring said.“ Richmond is just growing like crazy right now. The opportunity just hit us at the perfect time. I’ m just blessed to be here.”
10 Madison Magazine September-October 2026