Gregg Thomson woke up one Sunday morning and tried to figure out what to do with an empty storefront in a Midland plaza he owns.
So after some searching using everyone’s friend Google, he arrived at gelato. He immediately found a guy in the GTA selling the Italian ice delicacy, but was told he couldn’t transport the product to Midland.
But that contact opened the door to another GTA business that had a refrigerated truck and could deliver. So Thomson’s vision began to take shape.
“Honesty, this was all done on a whim,” says Thomson, who has operated a cellphone repair shop for a number of years in the plaza located on Woodland Drive.
But that “whim” has become a reality with ScoopEmms opening for business earlier this month.
The interior is painted in vibrant colours and has three picnic tables for those who’d like to enjoy their gelato in the store.
Thomson says his foray into the world of gelato has led to some amazement due to the huge number of flavours available.
“Right off the hop, it was 53 flavours of gelato, seven of cheesecake gelato and 16 of sorbet,” says Thomson, who notes they also make milkshakes and smoothies.
His supplier will also customize flavours at Thomson’s request, meaning if you can think of a flavour, it could probably turn into a gelato option.
Gelato, which actually means any type of frozen ice cream style dessert in Italian, isn’t constructed the same way as its contemporary cousin.
For one, it contains less milk fat than ice cream, is churned at a slower rate and is typically served at a warmer temperature, introducing less air to the dessert and yielding a softer and denser texture.
Prices range from $5 for a single scoop of gelato to $25 a litre with milkshakes and smoothies starting at $8.
ScoopEmms, which employs six workers, is currently open seven days a week. From Monday to Wednesday, it’s open from noon to 6 p.m. with the same opening hour, but closing at 8 p.m. during the rest of the week.
Adds Thomson: “We’ve been busy and all of our reviews have been phenomenal.”
