Ravenna's Carriage House Creamery opens second location in Mogadore

When I was a kid, my mom gave me a nickel to go “downtown” Mogadore to Isaly’s and get an ice cream cone. Six or seven of us neighborhood kids walked there with a teenager to supervise, and we sat on the lunch counter stools, spinning around, deciding what flavor we wanted to try that day.

A generation later, Mogadore children and their little league and softball teammates bought their cones and sundaes from the Dairy Queen, which was located at the corner of South Cleveland Avenue and Curtis Street.

More: Kent Chipotle moving to old Burger King site; new coffee shop being built in front of Acme

More: Portage APL says animals rescued from Mogadore home need a lot of care

Around Mogadore: Class of 2022 celebrated during commencement ceremony

Now a new generation of children and their families have a chance to experience buying an ice cream cone in the village at the new ice cream store located in Mogadore —Carriage House Creamery. The shop is located at 3878 Mogadore Road, next to McDonald’s, in what used to be the US Bank building, and it opened its doors Memorial Day weekend.

The Vance family’s first business venture was the opening of the Carriage House Creamery located in Ravenna. The shop opened its doors in the fall of 2019, thanks to the management of Bill’s wife, Vicki, and their daughter, Lexi. Lexi designed the interiors of the store on Main Street, with walls of cheery and bright multiple pastel colors, reminding the customers of the ice cream cones, milkshakes, fudge, and sundaes they were about to eat.

Bill Vance scouted out their second location in Mogadore one day while driving through the village. He and his family are from Diamond, but he is familiar with this area, having worked for PPG in Barberton for twenty years and as a supervisor at the Mogadore Pattern Shop. He worked for two years as production manager at Omnova Solutions before it became Synthomer.

Now Lexi essentially oversees both the Ravenna and Mogadore locations of Carriage House Creamery. The new Mogadore store is decorated in the same way as the Ravenna store, and Lexi manages the work schedules, sends payroll to the accountant’s offices, and places the product orders for both locations. Vicki helps out, especially during vacation season, to cover shifts on the weekends and holidays. Bill fills in where he’s needed and oversees finances. Bill and Vicki’s son, Ian, is a high school student who has worked at the stores as well.

Lexi, who graduated from Southeast High School in 2020, is a Kent State University student in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, and is pursuing a concentration in tourism management along with two minors in event planning and business administration.

There are 15 employees between both shops, and the store hours in Mogadore are 2 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 2 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. There is a drive-up window at the Mogadore location, but it is important to call ahead so that your order can be ready when you get there.

Besides the cones, shakes, malts, sundaes and cakes available, homemade fudge in maple, chocolate, chocolate-peanut butter, and peanut butter flavors is sold. Bill said his favorite ice cream flavor is Oatmeal Cookie Craving, while Lexi’s favorite is Cookies and Cream. Lexi observed that during the opening weekend their chocolate milkshakes were the top seller. I myself was impressed with the fact that the shop also carries two ice cream flavors that are vegan and dairy-free: Vanilla and Classic Cookies and Cream.

Many people came into the shop while I was there talking with Bill and Lexi, including the family of Jackson Martin. Parents Jason and Jackie Martin smiled as 7-year old Jackson told me that his favorite ice cream cone was lemon. All the customers in the shop who purchased ice cream cones complimented the tasty variety and flavors of ice cream that were available.

We welcome the Vance family and the Carriage House Creamery at their new Mogadore location and wish them much success. Stop by as you walk or bike through the village; you’ll love all the sweets!

Mogadore Class of 1972 plans reunion

A 50-year class reunion has been planned for the Mogadore Class of 1972 for July 22, 23, and 24. For more information about the reunion, please go to the Facebook page “Mogadore Class of 1972,” which will give you a list of the events that are planned.

For Mogadore news, please contact Barb Bauer at BarbBauerMog@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Around Mogadore: Carriage House Creamery opens location in Mogadore