Bangor’s Dinky’s Ice Cream Parlor is expanding its family-run shop into the heart of Southside Bethlehem.
Owners Norman and Jill Matthews hope to open the second Dinky’s by February at 312 E. Third St. in the Third and Polk building that’s already home to Playa Bowls and Molinari’s.
The shop will serve up soft-serve ice cream (both vegan and traditional), milkshakes and sundaes along with homemade burgers, pierogies, a prized-family recipe chili and Mama Dink’s famous chocolate chip cookies.
The couple stumbled on their new location while they were driving to Wind Creek Bethlehem and signs advertising luxury student housing on the upper floors caught their eye. When they saw space available on the ground floor, each thought it would be the perfect location to expand their retro-themed ice cream parlor.
The business is a second career for both Norman and Jill Matthews. Norman spent most of his life as a truck driver, but a back injury forced him to carve a new path.
Dinky’s was born -- a name that’s a nod to Norman’s childhood nickname -- after his wife handed him a notebook and challenged him to plot out his next steps. Jill Matthews wasn’t surprised as her husband’s always dreamed of owning his own business.
Taking the leap to open the first Dinky’s was scary but exhilarating, Norman Matthews said.
“You can’t be afraid. You just have to do it,” he said. “Or you’ll sit and be afraid your whole life.”
Now, Jill Matthews has retired from her teaching job at Bangor Area Middle School to oversee the transformation of the empty Bethlehem storefront into an ice cream shop and eatery. She misses her students but is enjoying a new kind of challenge.
“I wouldn’t have been about to do it without her,” Norman Matthews said standing in the new Bethlehem shop as a construction crew worked on the space.
The Matthews expect to hire about 12 employees once they open. The shop will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in winter with extended hours in the spring and summer.
Customers will find a wide variety of ice cream flavors -- mint and cookie monster are their two most popular flavors -- and a menu of “good, down-to-Earth American cooking,” Norman Matthews said. And his mom’s beloved secret chili recipe is on the menu and used to top the hotdogs.
“I don’t share that recipe with anybody else,” Jill Matthews said with a laugh.
Dinky’s plans to bring its quarry bucket ice cream challenge to Bethlehem, but it’ll be dubbed the SteelStacks challenge.
The shop dares its customers to try to down 12 scoops of ice cream, three liquid toppings, one candy topping, two bananas, whipped cream and cherries in 30 minutes or less. Those who take the challenge -- only two people have conquered it -- can have their attempt broadcast on Facebook Live.
The Matthews keep things lighthearted at their Bangor location and pride themselves on their customer connections. The walls of the ice cream parlor at 103 Broadway in the borough are plastered with photos of customers enjoying ice cream. There are so many snapshots now Jill Matthews has four photo albums filled with more pictures.
Right now, they’re raffling off a Thanksgiving dinner in a basket that includes all of the fixings, even a turkey. With every purchase, customers get a ticket to drop into the raffle.
Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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November 22, 2019 at 02:48AM
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Slate Belt couple taking its vision of a retro-themed ice cream parlor to Bethlehem - lehighvalleylive.com
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