32-year-old Hilton Head ice cream shop undergoes major renovation
While pay-by-weight frozen yogurt (or "fro-yo," if you will) has become a fixture in the Lowcountry as of late, one Hilton Head Island frozen treat shop has long been a sweet spot for locals and tourists.
Hilton Head Ice Cream in Fountain Center, at 55 New Orleans Road, Suite 114, opened its doors Aug. 13, 1982, when founder Creegan Edmonds introduced the first microcreamery in the area, according to its website.
The customers who brought their kids to the shop in the early '80s -- and who are perhaps now bringing their grandkids -- are in for a treat this summer, though they might not recognize the store at first.
The 32-year-old shop has undergone a complete overhaul. No worries, though; the creamy, homemade ice cream you've enjoyed throughout the years hasn't changed a bit, owner Kate Knisely said.
"We gutted the facility," Knisely said. "We now have a completely new layout and fresh machinery."
When Edmonds was looking for a new owner to run the ice cream shop last year, Knisely said she and he "just vibed."
"He's become like a grandfather to me," she said.
So it made sense for him to pick Knisely to take over Hilton Head Ice Cream -- in a way, it was like keeping it in the family.
Hilton Head Ice Cream had a soft reopening Thursday. A grand opening event is set for 11 a.m. April 11 (free ice cream tastings and cookies may be involved, in case that sort of thing interests you).
For those who haven't yet experienced Hilton Head Ice Cream, Knisely said 36 flavors are served in the shop, in addition to one to three specialty flavors per month. Parlor classics such as French vanilla and Oreo ice cream are available, in addition to one-of-a-kind flavors -- cayenne chocolate ice cream, anyone?
Follow up with a trip to the toppings bar, which includes new dispensers that make mixing and matching 12 toppings less messy.
If you're still not convinced, the addition of a coffee machine and an oven for Knisely to bake cookies in might be enough to cheat on your diet (I swear, I won't tell anyone).
"I use a secret recipe (for the cookies) that my mother and grandmother used," she said.
For the young (but mostly the young at heart), nostalgic candy will be sold. A new, 200-gallon fish tank reminds us of our beachy locale, and a large window lets passers-by unabashedly press their noses up to the glass to see ice cream and cookies being made.
So, in summary: 36 flavors of ice cream, 12 toppings, warm cookies, coffee and candy. Can you handle the sugar high?
"It's like a Willy Wonka factory," Knisely joked.
Hilton Head Ice Cream is open seasonally, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. through August.
Details: 843-842-6333
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This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 4:43 PM with the headline "32-year-old Hilton Head ice cream shop undergoes major renovation."