A storefront on West Main Street that has stood since the 1880s is turning out ice cream again, this time with the production line in full view of the sidewalk.
TX Creamery and a new location of Hey Sugar cut the ribbon Thursday on their shared storefront at 301 W. Main St., KXII reported. KTEN described the new tenant as an ice cream and candy shop.
Jeff Persichitte, the company's president and CEO, told KXII the opening capped a project that took more than two years. "For us to finally be in here making ice cream and serving the community, there's nothing better," he said.
Why Denison
Persichitte and owner Kristin Brittan told the station they weighed several smaller Texas towns before choosing Denison, and that the city's incentives and the welcome they got from residents decided it. Denison Chamber President Diana Theall compared the opening to Christmas after the long wait and said it was "heartwarming to see this building come to life again."
Flavors with local roots
According to KXII, the building was once a hotel, and the White Elephant Saloon served as its restaurant. The shop has worked that history into its menu:
- White Elephant: a honey, lemon and almond base folded with crushed ladyfingers and ribboned with white chocolate. The creamery's chef, identified by KXII as Chef Chris, said he found the building's history online, including an 1889 Christmas dinner menu, and built the flavor from dishes on it.
- Yellow Jacket: lemon ice cream mixed with pieces of frosted lemon cake and swirled with fudge, one of what KXII called the shop's Denison-specific flavors.
