After the local grocery store stopped hosting a soft-serve ice cream stand, Andy and Kristen Riddle got tired of driving 15 minutes or more just to get a cold treat on a nice summer night.
So, the Spring Mills residents decided to open up their own ice cream shop right in the heart of town, in an area that has seen some growth over the past few years.
Construction at Riddle’s Ice Cream Shop is underway, and the couple hopes to be open Wednesday, Aug. 1, if everything goes according to plan. Located next to Pizza Heaven and the Penns Valley YMCA, it will be a typical soft-serve ice cream shop, with sundaes, milkshakes and novelties, along with smoothies, frappes and cold-brewed iced coffee. There will be seating both inside and outside, and hours will be 3 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 1 to 9 p.m. Fridays and noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Having lived in Spring Mills for 15 years, the Riddles love the town, and they hope their shop becomes a meeting place for people. According to Andy Riddle, he has received a positive response from other community members.
“People keep coming up to us and asking if we are the ice cream shop people,” he said. “When we say that we are, they all seem to be excited and happy about it. I think it will be good for the valley to have a place to get together.”
With two daughters, the Riddles make a lot of trips for ice cream, and they said their whole family is excited for the shop to open.
“We hope to teach our girls about the value of work when they are old enough to work here, and make this a positive thing for the whole family,” said Riddle.
The couple is glad to get a start this year, and looks forward to being open from the end of the summer season through October. Depending on how things are going, they may open beyond the summer months in the future, but for now it will be a seasonal operation.
“It is a good way to get going, give us a three-month window to see what works and then be ready for the next year,” said Riddle.
Excited customers can keep an eye on the shop’s Facebook page to stay up to date on the opening and store information.
