Saying Goodbye to Our Scoop Shops, and Saying Hello to a Bigger Dream
- Ice Cream Factory
- Sep 25
- 3 min read
It started with a building and a memory. Shannon and Katie always had a knack for bringing old places back to life. So, when they stepped into an old, smelly 1930s Kraft Foods Factory in their hometown, they felt history in the walls. Katie’s grandfather delivered milk there, so preserving the space and starting a dairy venture felt right.
They began small. Hand-crank machines on the counter. A little Emery Thompson batch freezer. One simple aim: make ice cream worth gathering around.
Eldon, Jefferson City, and fresh paint on old brick (The birth of our scoop shops)
The first scoop shop opened in Eldon a month and a half after their son Harrison was born. Families came in. Kids pressed their noses to the glass. Neighbors lingered longer than they planned.
In February 2020 they took an old gas station in Jefferson City and gave it a second life. Fresh paint met old brick. Out with the oil smell and in with the scent of waffle cones and sugar. The soft clink of scoops on stainless steel set the tempo while friends shared stories over drippy cones.
However, a month later, March 2020 the pandemic came. The streets grew quiet, and the once lively streets of Missouri seemed like a ghost town. Despite this, our team did not slow down. With Shannon’s grit and a loyal crew, we moved our focus from our small shops to the grocery aisle. A few careful "Yes" 's became rows of containers in glass freezers. And today, you can now find us in more than 4,000 locations across 35-plus states. Happiness kept traveling, one ice cream at a time.
Flavors that found their people
Some flavors did more than sell... They created loyal fans. Gooey Butter Cake, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Blackberry Cobbler became fast favorites. Even with the big national names on the shelf, people reached for our ice cream. Thinking about it makes us smile.
What old buildings taught us
Those shops were never just shops. Revive a building and you spark a town. Foot traffic returns. Windows glow at night. Friends meet up after ballgames. Brick by brick and cone by cone, joy comes back.
A new chapter with the same mission
After more than six years of serving sundaes and making friends, our scoop shops are closing. This choice is bittersweet, and it is purposeful. We are focusing on manufacturing so we can spread happiness to the world on a larger scale. While this chapter closes, we are shifting our focus to our manufacturing plant so we can grow as a supplier of not only our Ice Cream Factory brand but also for other brands we are proud to partner with.
The dream has not changed. It has grown. With better ingredients, creamier textures, and fresh ideas from a team obsessed with the perfect bite, we are easier to find than ever. We have not forgotten about each and every one of you who walked through our scoop shop doors. But you have become part of our story and a part of our success! A huge "thank you" and a hope that you will continue to seek out Ice Cream Factory products as our family and our team continue to make delicious ice cream.
Thank you for every scoop
From opening day to the very last, it was about people. First dates and after-game victories. Summer nights and extra sprinkles. We are grateful for every visit and every photo. Harrison and Vincent are part of the journey now, and they remind us why we started: family, community, memories, and good ice cream.
See you in the grocery aisle!
We are stepping into this next season with energy and optimism. The mission remains simple: Make great ice cream and deliver happiness through our ice cream wherever you are. And who knows. One day the lights may flick on in a familiar window. The bell may ring over the door. Maybe the scoop shops will be back.
Until then, we’ll see you in the grocery aisle, like running into an old friend. Or get a delivery straight to your door. Either way, we’ll keep doing what we love: reviving old places and bringing happiness to those around us, one ice cream at a time.