Ice cream shops are opening up for the season in the region, and owners are hopeful that this year will be busier than 2021. So far, things seem to be on the right track.
“Opening night was incredible,” said Charlie Moore, owner of Charlie’s Olde Tyme Creamery in Peterborough. The ice cream stand at the intersection of Sharon Road and Route 202 opened April 7.
“I really look forward to this summer,” Moore said.
Chastity Hodgeson, owner of Station 16 in Jaffrey, first opened her shop in 2021. She said she was still figuring out how to run a business last year and they are all excited for their second season. Station 16 opened on April 15. It is firehouse themed, and not only is Hodgeson running this business and working as a full-time nurse, she and her father are on-call firefighters as well.
COVID restrictions and rainy weather meant fewer people went out to get ice cream last summer. Andy Hunt of Kimball Farm in Jaffrey said, “Last year was a little slower because of COVID. It was harder to get stuff here and there.” But Hunt said he and the team are also excited and ready for this season. Kimball’s opened its kitchen, country store and ice cream stand on April 14 and will stay open until October.
Moore was happy to have outdoor seating at Charlie’s last year, allowing people to social distance during the pandemic and still enjoy an ice cream. While emphasizing that “ice cream will always come first,” Moore said he’s looking into purchasing a food trailer to set up on the other side of the parking lot. This would allow him to expand his menu to include more main meal items. He said customers can “sit and eat by the river, it’s quiet,” and maybe walk across the lot and grab an ice cream for dessert. He admitted that last year’s heavy rain lowered his profits.
“It’s very weather-dependent,” he said.
Hodgeson worked at the former Tyler’s Ice Cream when she was in high school. She loved the job, so when the opportunity arose to start her own ice cream business, she and her dad made it happen. And this year she’s expanding her vision, selling T-shirts and adding interactive activities around the property. There will be a photo board, children’s table and cornhole to keep customers of all ages entertained.
Hodgeson said the business has a pretty big following on social media, so she expects more people will know about the spot this year. Although it was rainy last year, Hodgeson said there were regulars there every single day.
And she has a team. “Most employees from last year are coming back again. This year only a couple need to be trained,” she said.
But with staffing shortages throughout the food service industry, other businesses may face more of a challenge.
Moore said, “staffing has been an issue last year and this year.” He’s hoping to find two to three more employees for the season, but is worried he might not be able to, even with students getting out of school and coming home from college.
And finding workers isn’t the only difficulty facing ice cream shops.
“Times are tough right now with supplies, supply chain issues,” Hodgeson said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience.”
Moore is also impressed with the community response.
“We love all the support. It’s wonderful, the area we live in is so nice, community-oriented,” he said.
Charlie’s Olde Tyme Creamery is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 2 to 8 p.m.
Station 16 is open Monday through Thursday 12:30 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Kimball Farm is open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.