CREAM, the San Francisco Bay–based dessert franchise that specializes in high-quality ice cream sandwiches and other confections, will open three stores in the San Fernando Valley over the next 1–2 years, with the first store opening this summer in Northridge at 9000 Reseda Blvd.

“This latest agreement underscores the strength of our business model and overall growth strategy as CREAM continues to build its footprint throughout California," says company president Jim Ryan. "Since the opening of our first store in Berkeley five years ago, we've immersed ourselves into the goal of spreading throughout California. San Fernando Valley is another example of our brand proliferating into Southern California.”

Owners David Zeichick and Mario Ramirez expect the Northridge location to open this summer and eventually are seeking to own six or more CREAMs. Zeichick, a small business owner in the IT field and Ramirez, an immigrant of Mexico, and current court interpreter, have had ambitions to open a business together since they met over 20 years ago.

“We want to maintain the same standards and values that have made CREAM grow so quickly throughout California and beyond,” Zeichick says. “The model of super-premium ice cream between two original recipe cookies at an affordable price has worked tremendously so far and we expect the same results in the San Fernando Valley.” Both Zeichick and Ramirez will also be joined by their families with a hands-on approach for their stores.

CREAM, which is an acronym for “Cookies Rule Everything Around Me,” offers a menu of 20 ice cream flavors and 20 cookie flavors and as many as 15 topping that customers can mix and match, including vegan and gluten-free options. While the ice cream sandwiches are the main draw, CREAM also has milkshakes, floats, malts, scoops of ice cream, and other baked goods, such as the Cream Taco, a waffle cone shaped like a taco loaded with ice cream and toppings.

CREAM currently has 13 locations open and operating throughout California and Las Vegas, with plans to expand its national footprint over the next several years. Ryan says 30–40 new CREAM stores will open in 2015, and by the end of 2016, there could be as many as 150 stores nationwide.