The biggest complaint the new Hershey's Ice Cream gets from customers is that there are too many choices.
With 30 flavors of ice cream and over 30 toppings to choose from, its no wonder that customers keep coming back to try more sweet combinations from the shop, located on Maynard Street, next to Sheetz.
Store Manager Shannon Rockwell said the idea to bring the franchise to the area in October 2007 came after careful consideration and research.
"It was a great location and it was something different," she said. "People love Hershey's ice cream."
However, this isn't a normal ice cream shop. instead of traditional, straight-forward sundaes and cones, the store uses the "creation station" to create one-of-a-kind ice cream treats for customers.
"It's unique," Rockwell said.
Rockwell's personal favorite sundae creation is a mixture she calls "Peanut Butter Moose." It consists of "moosetracks" ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate sauces and peanuts all topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
"You've got to be creative to do this," she said.
In addition to sundaes, the store sells other cool treats such as ice cream cakes and shakes.
Though Rockwell said she didn't have any business experience prior to opening the ice cream store, she said she grew up around entrepreneurship.
"I've always grown up with family-owned business," she said. "My dad has really given me a lot of advice."
Rockwell continues the family tradition of helping out by selling her sister's homemade cheesecakes in the store.
Despite being a franchise, Rockwell said she has plenty of room for creativity and customization at her store.
"We have full control over what we stock here," she said.
With the Hershey's corporation making over 125 different flavors of ice cream, each individual ice cream parlor is able to choose which flavors to serve, based on the preferences of their customers and staff.
Rockwell also has nothing but praise for the corporation which sponsors her business, Hershey's Ice Cream, which has no affiliation with the chocolate company, according to the corporate Web site.
"Hershey's is really great about helping us out," she said.
In June, when the opportunity to expand presented itself, Rockwell was ready for the challenge. She opened another Hershey Ice Cream shop on North Loyalsock Avenue in Montoursville.
"The space was available so we decided to go for it," she said.
Despite the sweet success of her business and the delicious products she sells, Rockwell said her favorite part of the business is not the profit or the ice cream, its the people she serves.
"I love interacting with the customers," she said. "They come in here, they're pleasant and they want a treat."
The ice cream shop is open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., 7 days a week, during the summer.
