Chef Led
Spencer brings years of professional kitchen experience to every recipe and new flavor.
Family owned. Chef led.
Homemade with heart
Hilltop is the story of a neighborhood ice cream shop, a talented husband and wife team, and a shared belief that the best treats bring people together.
Our Story
Meet the Hilgemans
From Biltmore to Hilltop
Before owning Hilltop, Spencer and Melissa Hilgeman worked at Biltmore. Spencer was a chef and Melissa worked in events. It was there that they met Hilltop founder Barbara Borgerson, whose ice cream supplied the restaurant where Spencer worked.
Spencer was already a fan. He occasionally asked Barbara about helping Hilltop grow, but when she prepared to retire, she offered the couple the opportunity to purchase the business instead.
In 2021, the Fairview residents became Hilltop's new owners. The move combined Spencer's culinary background, Melissa's hospitality experience, and their goal of building a family business rooted in the community they knew.
Read the Asheville Citizen Times featureOne sweet step at a time
The Hilltop story
-
The beginning
A Fairview favorite
Barbara Borgerson introduced Hilltop Ice Cream to Fairview and built the neighborhood shop that started it all.
-
2021
A new family chapter
Spencer and Melissa Hilgeman purchased Hilltop, bringing their culinary and hospitality experience home to their Fairview community.
-
May 2025
The second scoop
Hilltop opened its Woodfin shop, fulfilling the Hilgemans' original vision of growing the business while keeping its personal touch.
The chef is in
What homemade means here
After taking ownership, the Hilgemans refreshed the menu with new flavors and more scratch made details. Spencer's kitchen experience keeps the ideas creative and the quality personal.
Made From Scratch
Brownies, hot fudge, cherry compote, and other flavor building ingredients are made in house.
The Perfect Crunch
Hilltop's light, crisp waffle cone comes from a recipe Spencer refined for more than three months.
Made for Everyone
The menu has grown to include more vegan, oatmilk, sorbet, and no sugar added choices.
People before everything
Growing without losing the neighborhood feel
The second Hilltop opened in Woodfin in May 2025, bringing the shop into the Hilgemans' new neighborhood. Even as the business grows, their goal stays simple: know the people who visit, care for the team, and protect the quality that made Hilltop special in the first place.
Come taste the story
Find your Hilltop favorite
Start with a bestseller, discover a seasonal scoop, or order the flavor the owners choose for themselves.