Sweet Mama's Ice Cream Makes Move To Lykes Gaslight Square Park

TAMPA, FL — After opening to rave reviews in Tampa Heights in March, Sweet Mama's Ice Cream has joined forces with the Tampa Downtown Partnership to open a location in the heart of downtown Tampa at The Square at Lykes Gaslight Square Park, 241 E. Madison St.

Owned by Akwi Njoh and business partner Jahkeal Samuel, the women- and minority-owned business offers soft-serve ice cream, baked goods and other sweet treats.

The Square at Lykes Gaslight Square Park is part of a public space activation project that features a food kiosk operated by the Tampa Downtown Partnership with grab n' go options.

The Partnership opened The Square in April with temporarily installed movable tables, chairs, overhead lighting to offer food, music and programmed activities in the park.

"Over the past decade, the partnership has focused on activating public spaces like Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, which has now become a year-round gathering place for families and residents," Tampa Downtown Partnership CEO Lynda Remund said. "Activating Lykes Gaslight Park is the next step towards seeing these great public spaces reach their full potential."

Remund said Lykes Gaslight Square Park has long needed additional park amenities and regularly scheduled programming.

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The Square provides Sweet Mama's a fixed location and exposure to a diverse downtown workforce, residents and visitors.

This new vending partnership marks the project's next phase as the Tampa Downtown Partnership and the city of Tampa collaborate on improvements to Lykes Gaslight Park.

Njoh said they're excited about the new partnership.

“Jahkeal and I want to create a diverse environment for our Tampa community to gather,” Njoh said. “Although we are serving ice cream, our greater purpose is to assist other minority entrepreneurs interested in launching a business.”

Sweet Mama's menu includes such choices as the Shake What Ya Mama Gave Ya shake, a Cookie Mama and Mrs. Brownie, a warm cookie or brownie topped with creamy soft-serve ice cream, and cake, sugar or waffle cones or cups filled with soft-serve and topped with a choice of M&Ms, Oreos, Gummy Bears, peanuts, pecans, hot fudge, caramel, Reese's cups, chocolate or rainbow sprinkles.

Sweet Mama's is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

See related story: Ribbon-Cutting Set Tuesday For Lykes Gaslight Park Food Kiosk