Craving a sweet treat? New Centre County shop will serve ice cream and shakes

With 16 different ice cream flavors, handmade shortcakes, banana splits and more, a new treat shop in Milesburg will soon be open for businesses.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the owners of Big D’s Cones and Shakes hope the establishment will bring needed happiness to Centre County residents.

Located on Dell Street and owned by Danielle and Jim Snyder, the shop will open at 11 a.m. Saturday. In order to practice safe social distancing measures, customers will enter and exit through different areas and receive their orders through a window. Ice cream flavor offerings include Oreo cookie, peanut butter ripple, strawberry cheesecake and cherry vanilla.

Prior to Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to shut down all nonessential businesses, the shop was originally set to open the first weekend in April, so the opening date was postponed. Fortunately for the couple, the shop’s outdoor layout and concession trailer format allows customers to stay six feet apart.

The idea for the shop arose because Jim Snyder owns and manages a portion of Snyder’s Concessions — a Bellefonte business that sells gyros, cheesesteaks and hot sausages — and the couple felt the best thing to pair with a good sandwich is something sweet.

“We were nervous that we weren’t going to be able to open,” Danielle Snyder said. “That was really concerning for us, how to keep everybody safe while providing this service to the public.”

The stay-at-home order for Centre County is set to last until May 8, after which restaurants are still limited to takeout and delivery. The Snyders hope their store will bring comfort to community members during this uncertain time period and beyond.

“We want to give the public something to look forward to,” Danielle Snyder said. “What’s better than being able to get out of your house and have something sweet?”

More information on the shop can be found on its Facebook page.

This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 7:53 PM.