What's that new ice cream shop in Milton? We have the scoop

Scoops Ice Cream and Sweets has made a triumphant return to Milton in a new location after a two-year hiatus.

Scoops owner Amber Leek said her family first brought the beloved ice cream shop to the Milton community in 2018 at Willing Street serving up ice creams and desserts.

In pursuit of a larger space for more inventory, equipment and parking, the shop closed its doors on June 12, 2021. Now, after a successful soft re-opening this summer on June 24 at 5830 Dogwood Drive, the shop is here to stay.

“We were not expecting the support we’ve gotten,” Leek said.

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The first space became the go-to spot for popping the question for engagements and high school “promposals” and the celebration spot where survivors go when the cancer-free bells chime.

“It was down on the riverfront, people could grab ice cream, they could walk down on the water. It was a special place for the community,” Leek said.

Now photographs of the milestones are hung on the new location's photo memory wall. Every other person who walks through the door says they have been eagerly waiting for the shop’s return, she said.

“Just a couple weeks (and) we’re already making memories in this one,” Leek said.

The new neon pink and green walls welcome guests into the 1,400-square-foot space where they will make the difficult choice between the 48 ice cream flavors. In addition to the Hershey’s ice cream line, they have also brought on four varieties of their edible cookie dough.

The Leeks lean into feeding the sweet tooth by offering a variety of freeze-dried candy, jellybeans and other confections.

The extra space in the new shop allows them to carry a little bit of everything, including brand-new flavors like the Banana PB Moose Tracks, made with banana-flavored ice cream with peanut butter flakes and fudge, and the decadent Brookie Dough Blast made with chocolate chip and brownie batter ice creams twisted with brownies and chocolate chip cookies.

The local owners find ways to make the ice cream their own, such as by offering a special sundae of the month, usually concocted by her son, Austin Leek, who serves as the store’s manager.

The shop is not only a way for her family to bond, but to also to help build up the community.

“To bring more tourism into the city, to bring the community together that is here, and then all the new people that are coming in because Milton, as you know, is growing like crazy,” Leek said of starting Scoops. “So just a good, safe, fun family atmosphere.”

The Leeks also plan on being actively involved in giving back to the community, such as by donating to this year’s Easter egg hunt hosted by Refuge Church.

The ice cream shop joins the growing Publix-anchored shopping center at Dogwood Estates, which also neighbors an incoming RibCrib and Teriyaki Madness.

Scoops is open from noon to 10 p.m. daily. More updates and information can be found on the Scoops Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Scoops Ice Cream and Sweets reopens in new Milton spot after 2 years