The Scoop on Scoopz

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Published on Thursday, 26 July 2012 20:40

scoopz1b"Actually, I didn't move here to start an ice cream shop, but for the education that was available for my children," says Helen Altomari, tracing a life route she says took her from teaching to serving as the Assistant Attorney General of Rhode Island, back to teaching, and now to owning the Scoopz ice cream shop soon to open in the town center.

The Middlebrooke resident says she started looking for a job after moving this past January from South Carolina to Ave Maria, where her daughter Elizabeth has transferred from Christendom College to attend AMU, and where her son Anthony will be entering ninth grade at Donahue Academy this year. Ms. Altomari did some substitute teaching, and then the Scoopz idea turned into reality.

Ms. Altomari hopes that Scoopz, which is slated to open in late August or September, will feature around 30 flavors, all supplied by The Ice Cream Club in Boynton Beach on the  east coast of the state. "The ice cream originates from Florida dairy farmers" she says. "The Ice Cream Club cooks the product at a lower temperature than many other companies," she explained. "That means the process takes longer, but I think it results in a better ice cream."

She also hopes to carry frozen yogurt and sugar-free ice cream, and to provide sundaes, brownie sundaes, and ice cream sodas.

Her store, located between Milano's Pizzeria and By Way of the Family in the town center, will seat 20 inside, either at booths or at limited seating by the counter, with its dipping stations and soda fountain.

The cheery interior she envisions will feature black and white tile augmented by a vivid pastel shade yet to be determined. Her daughter Elizabeth, who, when not at her studies, will be working at the shop as the manager, came up with the name and its individualistic spelling – Scoopz – as well as the logo.

The exact assortment of flavors hasn't yet been finally decided, but judging from the enthusiasm with which Ms. Altomari speaks of chocolate-chocolate chip and raspberry truffle, it seems safe to bet those flavors will be included.

Ms. Altomari says her current plans are for Scoopz to be open Monday-Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. until "late – maybe 11:30 p.m. or even midnight." She adds, "I'm very excited about opening Scoopz - it's like this has been divinely inspired for me."