Getting Closer!

Joe and I have been really busy with lots of things that will be important in our long term success of the shop. One of the first things we did was write a 20 page business plan.  We found that a business plan has helped us keep on track and we spent a ton of time deciding what we wanted before diving in head first.

Our building owner has been working hard to help us make sure that we have everything we need to be able to be successful in this location. So far the building has been gutted and a new roof placed since the Tornado of April 27th ripped it off. Also, they have added air-conditioning and heat....which I guess you don't need as a cleaners?! They also are re-surfacing the building, putting on a beautiful awning and putting up drywall, pulling all new electrical outlets, building public restrooms, putting up walls in our backroom and replacing the floor. All this even before we can get in there and paint and get set up! I am super-excited because we have gotten to choose all of our colors and since we had a perfect logo designed by Danielle Robertson of Boutique Graphique (http://boutiquegraphique.com) we continued with her chosen color scheme and are very pleased with how it will look!!

We are all set on our equipment and are leasing an 'Emery Thompson' ice cream machine or 'batch freezer'. Mr. Thompson, who now runs Emery Thompson, is the grandson of the inventor of the modern day ice cream batch freezer and is an amazingly helpful salesman! Why would you choose anyone else besides him, his family invented it! We are so pleased with his guidance and help to assure that we succeed in our shop.

We are currently looking for local artists to display their artwork for sale on our walls. If you know a budding artist, let them know I am looking for something to hang and sell for them!! We hope to be able to start working in the shop within the next 2 weeks and are aiming for an early December opening date. We are looking forward to it and are interested in trying lots of flavors, just not all at once!

See you soon!!

Dreams become reality

On Monday, October 3rd we became official Lessee's to the building for our Ice Cream Shop!! This was a nerve-racking, exciting day for both of us. I met the owner of the building for the first time and was ready for a stuffy  old businessman who only cared about making a buck. I was impressed because this guy was as excited as we were to have a 'mom & pop' operation in his building and is helping us get it set up the way we need to in order to open.  Since then, we have ordered our Emery Thompson Ice cream machine from Steve Thompson, the grandson to the inventor of the modern day ice cream machine.  The guy himself will talk to you and give you advice on what to do and assure that your ice cream is the best around!  We also have lined up our other equipment needed for the shop and have made a list of items that we still need.  We would love to do everything that everyone suggests right off the bat but will have to take it one step at a time in order to be successful.  Again, thanks to all of you for your support!!

Leap of Faith

So, tomorrow we will be taking a leap of faith and signing a lease on a building for our ice cream shop. This decision has been fairly easy for us, although slightly scary; because we both know we are doing the right thing. The most exciting part is that we are both very happy and excited about it all!


Who knew 11 years ago that we would ever be opening an ice cream shop, not us!  We have had SUCH overwhelming support from everyone around us and we are excited that a business that isn't even open yet has 200+ followers on our Facebook page...this alone has helped us have faith in what we are doing is the right thing.



 After we sign the lease tomorrow, we will get a set of keys but will still have to wait for the roof to be finished, the drywall to be put up, the building to be surfaced and painted and the awning to be installed. When all of that is compete we will work on our signs, windows, painting the inside, putting our fixtures in, shipping our equipment, decorating with our repurposed items, testing equipment, Board of Health inspection, and planning our opening.



 Joe will be working (actually he already has been) 7 days a week to open as quickly as possible and I will be helping when I get off work and on the weekends. Again, we want to thank everyone who has helped us believe in ourselves and take this leap of faith to bring you the best ice cream around!