Beach Plaza has the scoop
For those looking for the refreshing treat of an ice cream cone or sundae without all the hassle of trying to find a parking space, Beach Plaza Scoops could be just the ticket. Beach Plaza Scoops has old favorites Jack and Jill ice cream and Philadelphia Water Ice. Cone or cup, sundaes, milkshakes or banana splits, the shop could fill a sweet tooth craving for nearly anybody.
Coastal Point • Monica Scott
Beach Plaza Scoops crew from left, Dan Orendorf, Shawna Gilliar, Casey Daisey, Ashlee Reed and Russ Archut.
The new ice cream shop opened up June 25, just north of the Cottage Café restaurant off of Route 1 in Hickman Beach Plaza West. Owners Dan Orendorf and Russ Archut are longtime friends and share the same wedding anniversary, June 25.
“It was a heck of an anniversary present!” Orendorf observed with a laugh.
While on vacation last year with their wives, celebrating their shared anniversaries, they started to talk about the idea of having an ice cream shop. Archut is retired from the Sussex County engineering department, and Orendorf has owned businesses in the past and still works part time at the Bear Trap Dunes Golf Course.
With Archut’s engineering background and Orendorf’s business background, they went to work this winter. They got all their permits and built their counters, and did all of the plumbing and electrical work they needed to do to get set up. They received their health department permit on June 9 and opened June 25. They are now open seven days a week, from noon to 10 p.m.
“It seemed like a good location, and we wanted to try something new,” explained Archut, whose wife, Dianne, and son own the shopping center. After one of the tenants gave up some space, they decided it was a perfect spot for their ice cream shop, because – being on the end – they can have a service window to the customers just coming off the beach or those who have pets.
“I’m not sure what I expected,” said Orendorf of the shop’s grand opening, “but I am not disappointed. We get to meet a lot of people and have been fortunate that our friends at Bear Trap have been patrons. We have only been open a week, and some people have been in three times already, and that’s neat.”
First-time customer Kristin Nelson is also just the type of customer they are looking for. She and her daughters, Lilly and Noelle, spotted the shop when they were across the street at Happy Harry’s and decided to drive on by.
“We were across the street and noticed the sign,” said Nelson. “And we are here a lot, so when there is something new we notice it!”
“Look for us,” added Archut. “We’re real convenient, there’s the walk-up window and plenty of free parking!”
The shop is located at Hickman Beach Plaza West, at 33000 Coastal Highway, just north of the Cottage Café. They offer 24 flavors of Jack and Jill ice cream and eight flavors of water ice, and are open seven days a week from noon to 10 p.m. For more information call (302) 539-2300, or stop by.
