- November 21, 2024
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Ormond Beach's downtown district is about to get the scoop: A new ice cream shop is coming soon.
Neighborhood Scoop aims to open at 100 W. Granada Blvd. sometime in May, becoming one of the latest redevelopment projects in the district. The property, which used to be a gas station convenience store and had been left vacant since the mid-2000s, is owned by developer Bill Jones, who has transformed various other popular businesses in the district, including 31 Supper Club and Rose Villa Restaurant.
But, the creation of Neighborhood Scoop began with a complaint.
Craig Frick, who owns and operates Neighborhood Shop with his wife, called Jones' representative Dorian Burt about a year and a half ago to express frustration about the slow construction progress of the old gas station project, a result of pandemic shortages, and asked what was going on. Initially, the building at 100 W. Granada Blvd. was to house the new Pumphouse barbecue restaurant, but that project then moved to 124 W. Granada Blvd. when Jones purchased that building.
Once Frick found out there was an opportunity to operate an ice cream shop just a few doors down from his surf boutique, he didn't hesitate.
"My wife tells me that my hobby is starting businesses," he joked.
In addition to Neighborhood Shop and soon Neighborhood Scoop, Frick also owns a rep agency.
This won't be his first time diving into the food service industry though. He previously worked for several Outback Steakhouse restaurants for 14 years, and though he thought he would never get back into the food service industry after that, he is excited to become further ingrained in the community with his new business.
"We want it to be more than just a 'walk up, get ice cream, eat it and go,'" Frick said. "We want it to be more of an environment where people come and they hang out."
Frick hopes to be able to host movie nights as well as host programs and fundraisers for the community. The ice cream shop has galvanized steel AC vents, and he is hope to add magnets to them so people can pin dollars during donation events. He already has the first one planned: A fundraiser for Joey Mathias, an Ormond Beach resident who suffered a stroke after skydiving in August 2021.
A parent of three, he also hopes to collaborate with local schools and give coupons for free ice cream to students who achieve straight As or other similar accomplishments.
The inside of the restaurant was also important to Frick. He didn't want it to look like the average ice cream parlor; he wanted a more trendy, modern interior with accents of royal blue, present beyond the walls on the patterned floor penny tiles.
"Bill Jones has a very unique, cool look," Frick said. "He has a very cool vision on everything he does and he knows what he likes and what he wants, and luckily has the team that's able to do it."
Neighborhood Scoop will offer 24 flavors, to include dairy-free options.
"We're trying to have a little bit of everything for everyone," Frick said. "... We're open to suggestions. We want the community to let us know what flavors they liked and stuff like that, so we're going to have a little community board."
