The future of kosher vegan ice cream is coming to Teaneck! Featuring homemade dairy-free ice cream, Greenhouse Kitchen is set to open in the heart of Restaurant Row at 195 West Englewood Avenue. Behind this venture are two business partners who share a passion for innovation, collaboration and Jewish values.

Miguel Yigael, Yisrael Ben Avraham, known to many simply as Miguel, has a story as compelling as the business he’s launching. His Hebrew name carries deep significance: Yigael means “God will redeem,” reflecting his transformative journey into Judaism. Yisrael, the name given to all Jews, signifies his full embrace of Jewish identity, and Ben Avraham, a title traditionally given to converts, connects him to the forefather of monotheism. Miguel’s journey began in Florida, where he was introduced to Judaism through friends, and something just clicked. Within two years, he underwent a halachic conversion and became fully integrated into an established Teaneck Jewish family.

Michael Remez met Miguel through a casual encounter at a kosher restaurant in Englewood—an introduction that led to a business partnership. As a baal teshuva, Remez connected with Miguel over shared experiences in Jewish transformation. Their conversation quickly turned to business, and Remez recalled a small, 75-square-foot ice cream parlor that had been operating for four years but was ripe for reinvention. He and Miguel, a trained vegan chef, decided to check out the space to see if they could envision a different kind of ice cream parlor. By sheer divine providence, Elie Y. Katz, Teaneck’s deputy mayor and the landlord of the space, happened to be there with his family. What started as a simple walk-by turned into a full-fledged business plan when Katz immediately saw the potential of Greenhouse Kitchen.

Greenhouse Kitchen aims to provide nutritious options that cater to a broad audience by reinventing parve ice cream with a focus on health, cleanliness, efficiency and customer service. More than just a local ice cream shop, the vision includes expanding into kosher grocery stores, restaurants and other establishments.

Miguel brings extensive experience in the vegan food niche, having spent years working in health food restaurants. “My journey toward a cleaner diet started in 2015 while working at a healthy fast-food restaurant in Pinecrest, Florida,” he said. “From there, I worked with various small businesses throughout the Miami area, including a vegan deli and a kava bar and kitchen. I created menus, crafted proteins from vegetables, and explored innovative ways to make plant-based food both nutritious and delicious.”

Remez added, “We expect the soft opening to feature ice cream only, with a slow rollout of açaí bowls, juices and smoothies over the late spring and early summer months.”

When asked what inspired him to get into the food business, Miguel reflected on his upbringing. “Food was central in my family, as it is in many homes. It was a way for us to come together and enjoy each other’s company. Many of my aunts and uncles had vendor booths at local festivals selling Caribbean dishes.”

Now, Miguel and Remez are bringing that same sense of community and tradition to Teaneck—one scoop at a time.

Contact them at Greenhouse Kitchen at (201) 503-5446.