Locals will be able to get their sweet fix from Sunset Ice Cream for years to come.
John Fritz, owner of the popular ice cream store, said he and his wife have been flooded with phone calls since locals heard that his business' building at 1849 Lycoming Creek Road will be torn down to make room for a new CVS Pharmacy and Eyeland Optics store.
Fritz explained that demolition won't begin until April 2013 and he already is looking at several new locations.
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RASHELLE CAREY/Sun-Gazette
Customers visit Sunset Ice Cream’s 1849 Lycoming Creek Road shop on Thursday.
He has no plans of going out of business.
"I hate to relocate, but sometimes you have to make room for progress," Fritz said, adding he believes the new stores will be a good economic boost for the area.
"We will still be doing the fairs and carnivals in the summer time and doing production to fill our wholesale accounts," Fritz said.
"There are two different locations I'm looking at right now to put the new building on. I'm not sure which one we'll end up going with yet," he added.
He didn't discuss where those sites are.
The popular ice cream brand is sold at several stores in the state. Fritz said he is gearing up for what he expects will be a busy summer.
"We've got a store in Gettysburg that's already opened up this year, and another in Canton that sells our products," Fritz said.
The business, which Fritz began in 1977, has become a destination in Williamsport the last 35 years. Fritz said people come from all over the country, year after year, for his ice cream.
"This is a landmark now. We've got people who come in from all over the country. They came here when they were kids and now they bring their own kids here," Fritz said.
"It's nice to see people year after year," he added.
Fritz remains hopeful that someone will step in and begin a new ice cream shop that will serve the local area.
"Several people have called and told us they want to go into business, which I think is great," Fritz said.
"This is a good opportunity for someone else to put the ice cream shop in Williamsport," he added.
