Ready for a scoop?: Downtown Rockford is about to get an ice cream parlor
An old-fashioned, family-owned ice cream parlor is about to open in downtown Rockford.
Minni's Ice Cream Parlor will offer 28 flavors of hand-scooped goodness as well as chocolate and vanilla soft serve and even pizza by the slice.
Father and son owners, Tom and Michael Minnihan, are transforming the corner space at 211 Elm St. — kitty-corner from the BMO Center — a family-friendly, year-round destination.
"We're going to do the full banana splits and sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, candy toppings and all of that kind of good stuff," Tom Minnihan said.
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Black walnut, blue moon, butter pecan, moose tracks, rocky road, and spumoni are just some of the 28 flavors of creamy Cedar Crest Ice Cream the parlor will offer.
While you wait for your order, you can play on retro '80s and '90s pinball machines or an air hockey table.
"It will give the kids something to do," Tom Minnihan said. "Let's say they are early for the hockey game at the (BMO) Center. They can stop in, get an ice cream or soda and kill some time playing a game with their parents or friends."
If the name Minnihan sounds familiar, it's because Tom and Michael also own Minnihan's, a bar located just down the street at 226 S. Main St.
The Minnihans have experience with the bar and ice cream parlor business combo. They have own and operated Minnihan's bar in Genoa for eight years. Last October, they opened A & A Sisters Ice Cream Shoppe in Genoa, as well.
The Genoa ice cream shop is named after Tom Minnihan's granddaughters, Allie and Alaina.
As for who will operate each business, Tom Minnihan said, "It will be a little bit of everybody in the family. Besides my wife, Michelle, my son and myself, we'll probably have several employees. ... And of course, as soon as my granddaughters are older, they'll be working at both of them, too."
The Minnihans hope to open the Rockford ice cream shop before the end of summer.
Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Father and son opening Minni's Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Rockford
