FALCONER - Residents of Falconer are going to have a new spot to beat the heat this summer.
As of May 16, Phil Ricotta and Tabatha Whitacre's ice cream parlor, P&T's Sweet Spot is officially open for business.
Ricotta, an automobile mechanic by trade, is the owner of Phil's Auto Plaza in Falconer. The business has been family-operated since 1957.
Article Photos
A young customer receives an ice cream cone at P&T’s Sweet Spot in Falconer. Phil Ricotta and Tabitha Whitacre opened the business earlier this month.
P-J photo by Remington Whitcomb
However, when the house and garage directly adjacent to his auto plaza became available, he jumped on the opportunity to purchase it.
"Phil had always had the idea lingering in his head that if (the house) ever became available, he wanted to purchase it and turn it into dorm-style housing for (JCC students)," said Tabatha Whitacre, who accounts for the "T" in P&T's Sweet Spot. "Currently we're renting the house out to a family, but nonetheless the matter of the garage remained. As you can see, we've decided to turn it into an ice cream parlor."
Currently, P&T's Sweet Spot is open for business from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and is closed on Mondays.
Part of the charm of the new parlor is that the prices of items are specifically set to accommodate both young and old.
"If a 7-year old is walking home from school and has a nickel in their pocket, they can stop by and get a piece of bubble gum," said Whitacre. "When a parent stops by with their child and has (more money) in their wallet, they can get a banana spit or a milkshake. We want the parlor to be a fun place for everyone to gather."
According to Whitacre, one aspect of the parlor which she is particularly excited about is that it borders a large residential neighborhood in the village.
"Don't get me wrong, so far lots of people have driven here to enjoy some ice cream," said Whitacre. "However, lots and lots of people are walking here - probably about 50 percent. Sometimes they're out walking their dog and sometimes it's a parent with a kid on their bicycle or in a stroller. For most people who live in the village, it's only a short walk from their home and it's in an area that naturally gets a lot of foot traffic."
For those who wish to sit down and enjoy an ice cream cone, P&T's offers plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors and the option to purchase ice cream and continue walking is always available as well.
Currently, P&T's offers Pierre's Ice Cream and can make all the traditional ice cream parlor treats, such as banana splits, ice cream cones and milkshakes.
"As far as I know, we're the only store in the area that offers Pierre's," said Whitacre. "It's very creamy and rich and so far people have really taken a liking to it. Perhaps in the future we'll offer a few restaurant-type items (such as sandwiches) but for right now we're doing very well with just ice cream."
Whitacre said she is looking forward to the influx of business that summer should naturally bring and getting to see the happy faces of children and adults alike enjoying ice cream.
"It's just fun to watch," said Whitacre. "No matter who you are, it's hard to be unhappy when you have ice cream in your hand."