Farmington Ice Cream Store Cuts Size, Focuses on Meeting Customer Needs

After 30 years in downtown Farmington, Hershey's Ice Cream on Farmington Road looked quite different when the store opened in April. 

"We're half the store we used to be," new manager Jackie Reaume said. 

Benches along the south wall are gone, as is one of the ice cream cases. "There was not much seating in the restaurant (located next door), and when we looked at this space, we had a waste of space."

The extra square footage will mean more seating for the Mediterranean-themed restaurant when it opens sometime later this spring, she said. 

In addition to physical downsizing, Reaume has reduced the number of flavors offered, to focus on the ones most popular with customers. She also eliminated smoothies, which she pointed out are sold at Mentobe Cafe, just across the street.

The store will soon offer tiny cones with a spritz of lactose-free and gluten-free soft-serve, free of charge, to small children whose parents come in for ice cream cones, sundaes or shakes. 

"We're going back to the basics, what the store originally was in years past," Reaume said, adding she remembers those days, because she spent a lot of time in downtown Farmington while she was growing up. 

In the coming weeks, Hershey's will add a line of fancy pastries from a new shop in West Bloomfield that is expected to open soon. Along with those will come coffee and a line of specialty hot teas. The store's name will change, to Blue Moon Sweets & Treats, but Hershey's brand ice cream will still be in the cases.  

"We're hoping to become a year-round enterprise," Reaume said. "We will eventually be open earlier so people can stop by on their way to work and pick up pastries."

Current hours are Sunday, 2 p.m.-8 p.m., Monday through Friday, 12 p.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday, 2 p.m.-10 p.m. But Reaume said the store will remain open as long as customers are coming through the door. 

"Ninety percent of our business comes from neighbors out walking, so we want to be open for them," she said. 

Reaume is also open to feedback, so don't be shy about letting her or the workers behind the counter know about flavors or other items you'd like to see. 

Hershey's Ice Cream is located at 23629 Farmington Road, just south of Grand River.