Craving ice cream in the warm weather? This Binghamton stand is open

• Humdinger opened this year on March 1, and even with the early opening, business has been booming.
• Owner Alexandra Kelly took ownership last year, and has been making various improvements and additions.
• They are currently open every day from noon to 8 p.m., until March 24 when the hours will expand.

Are the short bursts of warm weather and the upcoming spring season making you crave a delicious ice cream cone? One Binghamton ice cream stand opened their doors early for that exact reason.

Jones' Humdinger on Upper Front Street in Binghamton started its season on March 1 this year and, according to owner Alexandra Kelly, business has been booming.

Humdinger originally opened as Jones' Humdinger in 1957. Steven Kallfelz took it over in the 1990s and ran the stand until last year when Kelly, who had been a Humdinger employee for 15 years, was handed the reins to make it her own.

Kelly, 30, of Binghamton, graduated from Binghamton University in 2017 before moving to Florida and managing two ice cream shops. A year later, she determined Florida wasn't the right fit and moved back to Binghamton.

After her return to Binghamton, Kelly fell right back into place at Humdinger and remained there ever since. She took over the ice cream shop in 2024, and everything just "fell into place," she said.

Humdinger offers a variety of homemade ice cream flavors, sundaes, ice cream cakes and unique toppings.

Kelly is in her second season running the business, and she decided to try something new by opening earlier than usual. The stand normally opens around St. Patrick's Day, but after customers had been asking her to expand the hours, she thought it would be a good idea to try.

"I really just wanted to see what would happen and it worked out," Kelly said. "People have been here in the snow."

Since owning the business, opening earlier hasn't been the only change Kelly has made to Humdinger. She has also introduced new ice cream flavors and weekly specials, made use of the drive-thru option and added an on-site food truck.

Northern Roost is now parked behind the Humdinger ice cream stand and serves up a menu including pulled chicken sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, and fries. Kelly said the truck will be parked there every day until the summer season, when it will likely only appear during the week.

While various changes have been made, one aspect of the business remains the same — its devoted customers.

"Without them, we wouldn't be doing anything," Kelly said. "I've had people coming here that have been coming here since the 60s or 70s, or since it opened."

The ice cream stand is regularly flooded with customers, both regulars and newcomers. For Kelly, the beloved business represents community and togetherness.

"I think it represents almost a home," Kelly said. "I have adults that say their grandparents brought them here as kids. Everyone comes after sporting events as a team."

For many adults, teenagers, babies and even dogs, Humdinger is their go-to ice cream spot in Binghamton. As temperatures neared 70 degrees on Tuesday afternoon, over a dozen people were lined up outside the stand to enjoy their favorite cold treat.

"It's an ice cream shop," she said. "I want everyone to leave happy."

Humdinger's current hours are noon to 8 p.m. daily. After Monday, March 24, the hours will shift to noon to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.