This spring, customers won't have to wonder where or when they'll get a scoop of Sweetport's signature ice creams. Flagging down the ice cream truck won't be required once the doors open to the business's brick and mortar retail store.
In early March, Sweetport will open a standalone ice cream shop at 3301 Line Ave., at the corner of Gladstone Boulevard and near Kings Highway in Shreveport.
Construction began in September and is expected to end in time for the tentative opening date.
"We’re a locally owned shop that basically wants to add a layer of coolness to our community,” said co-owner Jeff Spikes.
Rolling forward
In August 2016, Jeff and Nicole Spikes launched their Sweetport mobile ice cream store and catering service.
Sweetport debuted as a 1950s International Harvester Metro Van converted into an ice cream truck, adoringly named Sweetie. The vintage vehicle cruised through neighborhoods and served crowds at festivals and events across Shreveport-Bossier City.
Once the brick and mortar shop opens, the ice cream truck will continue to roll but less frequent and at a slower pace of business.
The idea of opening a shop was at the back of their minds when they launched the business.
Jeff Spikes, the owner of iArchitecture, has worked on many restaurants in their construction stages. The architect began to see it as a viable step the more he saw other eateries open their doors.
"You can only do so many jobs for people until you want to start doing something for yourself," he said.
Related: Sweeport ice cream truck debuts in Shreveport
Nicole Spikes had the vision and Jeff Spikes' architecture skills assisted with translating the idea into a design and blueprint.
“It’s all her vision,” he said.
"I just ask him, ‘How I can do it? How can I make this possible?’” Nicole Spikes said.
For Nicole Spikes, a former physician's assistant, the retail workspace will be a larger place to let loose.
"It was a dream she had of having her own place and having an outlet for her creativity," Jeff Spikes said. "She couldn’t do that in her medical field.”
The Highland ice cream shop is intended to be a fun, welcoming, and casual place for neighbors, families, students to convene.
“We’re not from Shreveport but we’ve always lived in this neighborhood. We like mom-and-pop stuff and like adding to the coolness of the neighborhood, as well,” Jeff Spikes said.
For nearly 20 years, the couple has lived in the neighborhood and lives just minutes away from the shop's doors.
Located behind C.E. Byrd High School, the Spikes foresee the ice cream parlor as a hangout spot for students. The plan for Friday night football special events and deals and school fundraisers are in the works.
The mission is to be fully ingrained in the community.
“We’ve raised our kids on this street. My kids have played on the track across at Byrd. All of our kids have learned to ride their bikes up and down this street,” Jeff Spikes said. “It’s a sentimental value for us to do something cool in the neighborhood that can contribute and bring it back.”
Chilling out
Sweetport's complete, from the ground-up reconstruction project will turn a vacated, former dry-cleaner into a sleek mid-century-style structure.
The original, classic sign still stands outside.
The Spikes are converting the commercial space into 1950s style design and fixing up the sign to repurpose for their ice cream shop.
The finished product will be a mid-'50s modern sleek time capsule dining area, capped with a spaceship curvy umbrella roof, the Spikes said.
Sweetport's shop design will follow the style of the vintage 1956 ice cream truck. The color scheme will resemble the company's logo with a palate of jadeite green, accents of gold and white, and a bit of red to reflect the cherry on top of the ice cream in the logo.
“We’re trying to make it that sweet '50s swinging style,” Jeff Spikes said.
Inside, the Spikes will create an at-home feel in the public space. The room will be sectioned off to feel like a living room or dining room, with room enough for large groups of friends and families. Plus, there will be smaller tables, individual seating, and outdoor patio seating options.
The interior will be furnished with tulip-style tables with mid-century modern chairs, as well as bubble lamps and Sputnik lighting fixtures.
Sweet treats
The three-year operation as a mobile retailer has prepared the entrepreneurs for the next phase of business. It was a time used to test the market to learn what customers wanted.
2019 Shreveport-Bossier restaurant: Openings, closings, and chef wins
The ice cream truck allows for eight flavors in stock. In the shop, about 16 will be in rotation with many other treats on the menu. This may include some seasonal flavors brought back with more permanent placement, and other products that normally wouldn't be available on the truck.
"Here at the shop, we’re going to have the opportunity to make other kinds of specialty desserts with the ice creams…. Things we’re unable to do on the truck because we’re limited to space,” Nicole Spikes said.
Sweetport produces many specialty items from macarons to sno-balls, all made from scratch and in small batches to ensure consistency and quality. Ingredients are sourced locally and recipes sometimes feature a special addition from area businesses, such as using Lilah's Bakery's King Cakes for the Krewe of Lilah_nd.
A collaboration with Lowder Baking Company led to the creation of a cookie-ice cream cake. And Rhino Coffee's roasted beans are used to make a coffee ice cream, Cypress Black Brew.
“We try to find things that are neat. Different kinds of ice cream that you might not see,” Nicole Spikes said.
In addition to ice cream, Sweetport will serve:
- Old fashioned shakes/malts
- Floats made with handcrafted sodas
- Sweetie-style sundaes
- Banana splits, all paired with ice creams
The increased inventory of ice cream flavors will include options for non-dairy, vegan and sugar-free varieties.
Each month, a signature dessert — such as tarts, pies, cobblers, served a la mode —will be paired with an ice cream flavor. Hot chocolate will be featured in a variety of flavors with scratch-made marshmallows and whipped cream.
If you go
What: Sweetport
Where: 3301 Line Ave., Shreveport
Opening early-March
Info: (318) 751-2387 or https://ift.tt/2FptlPB
"cream" - Google News
January 06, 2020 at 08:07PM
https://ift.tt/35tG4Lu
A sweet location: Ice cream parlor opening in Highland neighborhood - Shreveport Times
"cream" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2MOPaLD
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment