Daughter of Late Heavenly Licks Owner Re-Opening Store

The daughter of Jay Conley, the late owner of Heavenly Licks ice cream store on West Wyoming Avenue, re-opened the store this week.

Kara Conley went before the aldermen's Protection and License committee on Thursday night for her common victualler license. Her father ran the store for almost 28 years until his sudden death last June.

"I’ve worked there my whole life—on this side, it’s different and something he made look effortless, which it definitely is not," she said with a chuckle and a smile.

Conley, who grew up in Gloucester, said the outpouring from the Melrose community after her father's passing last summer and the shrine created in the front door of Heavenly Licks "meant so much to my family and I.

"This has put the 'heaven' in "Heavenly Licks,'" she said.

Ward 5 Alderman Gail Infurna welcomed Conley back to the neighborhood.

"We're very grateful that you are taking it over on a permanent basis—although it's a little bittersweet," Infurna said as Conley shook her head in agreeement. "It wouldn't be the same, West Wyoming wouldn't be the same without it."