A new ice cream shop in Island Pond has seen strong demand since opening July 1, with lines stretching out the door over the Fourth of July weekend.
Granny's Scoops occupies the former Hobo's building on Cross Street, near the waterfront and town park. The shop is owned by Paula Keenan and Paige Crowe, who left careers in healthcare and nursing to start the business.
Paige Crowe said the idea for the shop grew out of a family conversation about what should fill the empty building. "I couldn't stop thinking about it," she said.
The owners said they wanted to create a welcoming space for people to sit and enjoy time together, rather than a walk-up window. "We wanted people to come in," Paula Keenan said.
Both women have roots in the Northeast Kingdom. Keenan grew up in West Charleston; Crowe grew up in Newport Center and lives nearby with her husband, Cody, who has helped with the business while working in power line construction.
The shop has also drawn interest from local teenagers seeking summer work. The owners said they see it as an opportunity to teach responsibility and customer service.
Originally reported by North Star Monthly.
Photo: Víctor C. via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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