NORWICH – Summertime for many people means barbecues, hot afternoons spent lounging poolside, and indulging in the occasional ice cream treat, courtesy of a brand new business on the east side of town.
With summertime almost at its peak, store owner Vicki LaCroce opened the doors of her new business one week ago, promising local patrons something a little different – with a cherry on top. Since then, LaCroce’s little shop – Vicki’s Ice Cream Parlour, located at 104 E. Main St. in Norwich – has already generated buzz among ice cream fanatics.
“I just wanted to create an atmosphere where people can come in, sit, and relax for while,” said LaCroce.
A Norwich resident herself, LaCroce said her store is a local one-of-kind venture – a year-round ice cream shop with an old-fashioned theme, where customers can get more than just a cold delicacy. In addition to its hard ice cream specialty, Vicki’s Ice Cream Parlor also offers an assortment of flavored coffees, salads, sandwiches, and miscellaneous baked goods. And all of it offered at a fair shake.
“We really tried to make things affordable here so people can come in with their kids and get what they want without spending their whole week’s paycheck,” she added. “It’s an easy-going atmosphere and we really want to stress that it’s about more than just ice cream.”
Now, after only one week overseeing her sweet new enterprise, LaCroce said she isn’t sure what the future holds for Vicki’s Ice Cream Parlour. But hopes are high and customers have been more than welcoming.
“We have seen a little of everyone in here ... It’s been older customers, young families – it’s been great because there has been a real variety,” she explained, also noting that her enjoyment of customer service is what turned her into an aspiring business owner. “I like people and I love having this kind of interaction.”
In the meantime, LaCroce is getting plenty of help from her family and friends. Debbie Simpson, a longtime former colleague of LaCroce, gave up her job in the medical field to take a spot behind the counter at Vicki’s Ice Cream Parlour. She makes just one of three other employees eager to serve.
“This is really a lot of fun,” Simpson said. “I get to talk to and get to know a lot of different people here.”
What makes Vicki’s Ice Cream Parlour different, Simpson added, is its hospitable atmosphere, where anyone can spend a few moments to unwind with a frozen guilty pleasure in hand. “You aren’t being pushed out when you come in here,” she said. “It’s a place to come in and just order a cup of coffee and sit a while if you want.”
Said LaCroce, “Each day, there’s someone new coming in. It’s exciting to see ... I’m not sure that I want to have my business grow any time soon, but I’m optimistic about where it’s going.”