Piece of Ice Cream 'Heaven' in Sandy Hook

Ray Ruzek and wife Mary Anne Napier were having problems finding a new tenant for their rental property at 10 Glen Road when they began talking about opening an ice cream shop.

Long fans of ice cream, the couple had talked for years about opening up such a shop as they neared retirement. But with still busy careers, one as a certified public accountant and the other in the corporate world, operating an ice cream business seemed a distant prospect.

But the more they talked about the idea, the more it began to make sense. The prior tenant, Newtown Quilts, hadn’t been able to continue operating due to the economy and there were few prospects for a new tenant. In addition, the couple have a daughter whose husband recently returned from Afghanistan and will soon be discharged from the U.S. Army.

Ruzek and Napier reasoned if they opened the ice cream shop, their daughter and son-in-law could return to Newtown and operate it. The shop building, which dates to the early 1800s, also has a second-floor apartment that could be renovated to accomodate the young couple.

“It’s going to be a family-run business,” Ruzek said of the shop, which they named Heaven. “The great thing is everybody comes in happy. That’s one of the reason we call it Heaven.”

While the couple said they would like to create their own ice cream eventually, they decided to start by carrying someone else’s ice cream. So they went to taste-test homemade ice cream from different vendors, settling on one from Danbury.

From the customer reviews, the flavors have been a success, from the blue Cookie Monster flavor that attracts children as well as adults to the more sophisticated Chocolate Chip, which features high quality bits of chocolate in vanilla ice cream.

The prices are reasonable and likely to be one of the main attractions with a small scoop cost $1.95, a medium $2.95 and large $3.95.

“You can take your family out for $10-$15,” Ruzek said.

Napier also added that during the Depression, ice cream parlors flourished as a relatively cheap form of entertainment for families, which was one reason the couple said they went through with the idea of opening up the shop.

The property offers parking in the back and tables outside on which families can eat their ice cream. The building also has space inside that will provide a café atmosphere and space for parties when the weather isn't cooperating.

The shop will hold a grand opening event on July 9 between 2 and 4 p.m. during which New York Jets player Freeman McNeil is expected to stop by to lend his support. McNeil and Ruzek are friends.