For many Calgarians, ice cream is a cool treat that you just can’t beat.
“It’s like a good distraction, especially on a summer day,” said Zachary Xavier, adding with a laugh that during the COVID-19 pandemic, “there’s not really anything else to do anyway.”
Xavier was enjoying a cookies-and-cream cone Wednesday outside Lics Ice Cream Shop in northwest Calgary.
The shop has been in business since 1982, and like many other ice cream shops in the city, it has remained a popular place during the pandemic.
“We are doing actually really pretty good in spite of everything,” Lics owner Elizabeth Leavitt said.
Another Calgary company is expanding, hoping the time is right for a new location.
“During the pandemic, it’s a little bit tougher times,” Made by Marcus Ice Cream owner Marcus Purtzki said. “So there is some concern with lineups, social distancing.”
The COVID-19 crisis brings challenges in lining up tradespeople, so instead of opening in late spring as planned, Purtzki is now looking at serving the first customer at his new Bridgeland location in August.
Despite the setback, he remains optimistic.
“During the pandemic, people are going out and trying different takeaway options, doing curbside pickup,” Purtzki said.
“The fact that everyone is staying in Calgary and supporting local [businesses] is a great thing.”
Purtzki’s new shop — Calgary’s third one — is a project that’s bringing back some sweet memories for the owner of the building it will operate out of.
For the first time in a long time, there will once again be cool cones served on that corner in Bridgeland.
“Dad would be happy and this is what he always wanted: making sure the neighbourhood always had an ice cream shop,” Traya said.
It’s a sentiment shared by a customer enjoying her triple-chocolate-brownie cone outside Lics.
“It just gives you a smile,” Carley Kimmett said.
“The world can seem so grim, so it’s just nice to have a nice scoop of something sweet.”