In Mid-March, Kimberly Laird, a former manager for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, fulfilled a lifelong dream when she purchased the former Candy Shoppe at 235 E. California Street in Jacksonville. Ms. Laird has since remodeled the interior and exterior of the historic property and re-named it, “The Scoop Shoppe.”
By returning the interior to reflect more of an old time “parlor-look,” Laird will open the first week of May and offer a full line of ice cream (Dreyer’s) served in cones and cups, root beer floats, malts, banana splits, soda fountain drinks, carry-out water and soda, hot fudge sundaes, candy including MaryJanes, Bubblegum cigars, old-time lollypops, gummys galore and more treats.
Laird, 49, has a family connection with Jacksonville dating back generations—her grandfather carried the US Mail through Jacksonville on a route from Coos Bay to Klamath Falls in the early 1900’s. Laird was raised in Jackson, California, a gold-strike town with similar characteristics as Jacksonville.
Kimberly says she discovered Jacksonville while on a road trip from the Bay Area. At the time, she says, she was looking to relocate when the Jacksonville opportunity “snagged me!”
In addition to sweets and treats, The Scoop Shoppe will provide visual treats, serving as a micro-art gallery. Laird will be providing several community artists wall space for rotating art displays.
The Scoop Shoppe hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 11:30am-6pm and Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am-8:00pm. For more information, please contact Kimberly Laird at klaird38@yahoo.com.