Owner Karen Barchowski says there were times she doubted her resolve to reopen the shop on State Road A1A following Irma, but community support kept her going.
While Sally’s Ice Cream officially reopened April 1 to serve family members, friends and visitors to Flagler Beach, Saturday, brought a full day of celebration as a ribbon was cut and rainbow sprinkles were flying.
Closed for seven months post-Tropical Storm Irma, Sally's owner Karen Barchowski says there were times she doubted her resolve to reopen the shop on State Road A1A, but community support kept her going.
“It took seven months, but we made it back,” said Barchowski. “It’s to celebrate not only Sally’s reopening, but the community as a whole. I am so thankful and so blessed. All the bumps and bruises ... there were times I didn’t think I was going to make it through. But my family, my friends, strangers, the community, the mayor, my employees, they are my rocks. We’re all family and they are my heroes.”
Barchowski was especially thankful to local contractor John Gilvary, who helped her cope with the reconstruction process.
“John Gilvary has done so much for me. He showed up. He’s a great man and an awesome businessman, and a great friend now as well,” said Barchowski. “All of the sudden, it was like this sweep of energy and kindness.”
Receiving calls this year from people as far away as Wisconsin and Ohio, who have created family memories and heard the shop was reopening, demonstrates to Barchowski the power of the connection and history Sally’s Ice Cream shop has with generations of families.
“They say 'it’s such a special place because that’s where we had our first date and now we’re having our first baby.' We’re going to start doing little stories because there is so much attached to this place and history,” she said.
“This is how I live my life and it’s what I tell my employees — we sell ice cream. We didn’t create the molecules or invent it. They (customers) can go anywhere, so why do they come to Sally’s? Because we give them something to believe in: kindness, inclusion and love for humanity. It’s really simple and I hope that’s what people feel.”
Launching the day with two organic ice cream selections in addition to her regular menu of flavors, Barchowski, a chef by trade, unveiled a bananas foster with homemade caramel and a basil ice cream with strawberry pepper relish and chocolate ganache to wow her customers.
“Today is my new line, an organic line that can only be made in small batches. So every Monday I’ll have a new crazy flavor and when it runs out, it runs out until the next week,” she said.
Flagler Beach Mayor Linda Provencher was on hand Saturday to show her support as bands played throughout the day and folks greeted each other at one of the favorite hangouts.
“It’s amazing to see it,” said Provencher. “Karen’s owned this now for six years and they really struggled after Irma, so to have this reopened and have everybody come out and support them is very important.”