A familiar ice cream shop was closed for 11 days and reopened in a new location.
The Market moved north near the corner of North Holden and East Culton streets and celebrated its reopening Sept. 11.
“We wanted it to feel a lot like the old Market so that’s why we painted everything black,” said Karen Vick, The Market owner. “Everyone is like, ‘Did you guys move?’ It feels so much the same that they’re like, ‘No wait a minute, this is different.’ We just wanted to have the same feel but be bigger.”
With more space, the shop is able to offer 24 flavors of ice cream; previously they offered eight.
“We have a lot more seating. You could probably fit 15 at the old shop and we went from 15 to about 40,” Vick said. “Plus, we have a fun, comfy-couch-sitting area where you feel like you can just come and stay instead of having to get your ice cream and get out.”
Vine Design owner Ivy Vine, a vendor who sells handmade products in The Market, said she’s excited for The Market to be open again.
“Everyone was so excited because we were closed for so long, it felt like,” she said. “We have a lot of regular daily customers that come in and it’s nice just to visit with and see people in the community.”
Vine said the extra space is good for her business as well.
“It definitely makes us all more confident as vendors to have a nice place to display our items,” she said. “It’s more professional and gives us a lot more opportunity for growth.”
Vick said Vine was able to add two gallery walls to the new space.
“I’m able to bring more product, offer more custom services and just get new ideas from customers that come in and provide handmade gifts,” Vine said.
Vick said the shop stays local with almost all of their products.
“It’s Central Dairy ice cream, which we’ve always had but now we’re just able to have more options,” she said. “The ice cream comes out of Jefferson City, Missouri, so it’s fairly local. We also have cheesecake and homemade pie, which is made local too.”
Besides seating, gifts and ice cream, there’s more you can find at The Market.
“We also added fountain drinks, so this weekend we’ll be offering different floats,” Vick said. “Butter beer floats, caramel apple cider floats. We also have Big Red cream soda, so we’ll be doing the “Fighting Mule” float. It’ll be Big Red cream soda and vanilla ice cream.”
Vick said a party room is an added amenity. People can rent the room in the back for events such as kids parties and meetings.
Vine said the space is welcoming and makes people want to sit, stay and enjoy their ice cream, cheesecake or pie.
“There’s moms like me at home that don’t get out and do anything,” Vine said. “This is the spot you can bring your kids and be comfortable and stay a while now.”
Overall, Vick said it feels more like an ice cream shop.
“Over there, we had eight flavors but sometimes I feel like people would choose Dairy Queen over The Market,” Vick said. “Now I’m hoping having more variety will just make people shop local.”