Barrie has many signs for the arrival of spring and summer, but none more obvious than the opening of Scoops and Cones down on the boardwalk. The tiny little shack is the destination of ice cream fans from all over the area and the staff is proud of that fact.
Opening day for the 100 square foot-hut was Friday May 20 and owner Keith Strachan was all smiles as people were hanging out in front as staff was readying to open the serving windows.
“The hut has changed hands many times over the last 20 years but Scoops and Cones has been here for seven years this summer,” said Strachan. “We truly love selling ice cream in this location, how could you not? It’s such a water-front thing to do.”
The 100 square-foot building sits at the start of the boardwalk next to the marina, a stone’s throw from The Spirit Catcher. While they are not exclusively a Kawartha Dairy shop, Scoops and Cones does only sell the famous Ontario ice cream. Sell they do, as thousands of residents and tourists visit each year.
“We see about 4,000 folks a week so over spring and summer we’ll serve about 40,000 people,” said Strachan. “When we’re busy we are really busy but it’s always weather dependent. But even if there is a line-up, no one ever complains. Between the view of the lake right beside us and just enjoying the weather with each other it’s always a good line-up to be in.”
Paige Seabrook enjoys the busy atmosphere of the ice cream hut so much she’s back for her fourth year of service. Not only is it a fun place to work, but the teenager has her own memories of standing on the other side of the window.
“I remember coming here as a kid to get ice cream, reading the list as you get closer and closer,” said Seabrook. “It is a really fun place to work, being so close to the lake and all the sights and sounds of the marina. It’s also really cool to see the kids get excited for their treats.”
Seabrook says that all the flavours are delicious but feels that possibly Moose Tracks (vanilla ice cream, peanut butter cups and Moose Tracks fudge) is the most popular. Four year old Benton would disagree. The ice cream connoisseur and his dad, Kaz Ireland, were the first to be served at the hut in 2016 and the youngster was well into the first scoop of the year when asked what his favourite flavour was.
“Mint chocolate chip, because it has mint and its green,” said Benton.
Dad Kaz has some older children too who he says have all made this a family tradition over the years and feels there is no better spot to feel a little bit of Barrie in your year.
“My son was talking about it as we came down here and fortunately it was open,” said Ireland. “We love it here. I use to bring my three older boys here when it first opened up, we all look forward to it every year. It’s just such a beautiful spot and it’s probably one of the true city hot spots.”
Scoops and Cones is open now weekdays 4:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., weekends 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Summer hours are daily 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. depending on dusk. You'll have to get your waterfront ice cream fix in soon, as they typically close up on Labour Day weekend.
