Aggie Ice Cream grand reopening features parlor’s new look
Students, faculty and community members assembled on the Aggie Ice Cream patio Friday afternoon as the dean of the College of Agriculture cut the blue ribbon to officially open the store after months of remodeling.
The remodeling began in December 2004 and was completed four months later. Construction crews replaced the sheetrock, paint, tile and cabinets, said Joseph Bailey, sales and marketing coordinator of Aggie Ice Cream.
Several new tables and chairs were added in the dining area as well as a bar in the far left corner of the store.
The Aggie Ice Cream store hasn’t been remolded since 1976 and the cabinetry is starting to wear away.
“We are remodeling for cosmetic reasons. The store needed a facelift,” Bailey said.
A new rectangle light-up sign was placed on the patio with “Famous Aggie Ice Cream” on two of the sides and “True Blue Aggie Cheese” on the remaining two sides.
The remodeling extends past updating the physical store. A new logo was developed and the half-gallon ice cream boxes also have a new design, Bailey said.
Products from throughout the community are now sold in the store. Customers can buy Crumb Brothers bread, coffee from Caffé Ibis and Weeks Berries of Paradise jam. The jam and Shaffer House Bakery bread are used for the sandwiches made in the store, he said.
“The community has supported USU, so we want to support them,” Bailey said.
Aggie Ice Cream fans everywhere can now purchase their favorite flavor online. The Web site is www.aggieicecream.com and half-gallon boxes can be sent to any of the 48 mainland states. So far, orders have been shipped to Virginia and Idaho, Bailey said. Soon, customers will be able to buy cheese online as well.
The official grand opening was held Friday at 3 p.m. Right before the event, cheese gift baskets and T-shirts with the new logo were given away to those in attendance.
Noelle Cockett, dean of the College of Agriculture and interim provost, was the first speaker. She thanked those who came and discussed the strong tradition of the ice cream at USU.
“I believe Aggie Ice Cream is up there with Old Main, the Tower and the ‘A’,” she said.
Gary Richardson, a USU professor emeritus of the nutrition and food sciences department, gave a brief history of the ice cream, which was first produced commercially in the 1920s.
“This is a great legacy. Let’s go for another 80 years,” Richardson said.
Cockett then cut the ribbon while representatives of Cache County and USU surrounded her.
After the ribbon cutting, Cass Matheus, Jaycee Carroll and Nate Harris of the men’s basketball team signed team posters for fans.
Gymnasts Alex Martin, Katie Rutherford and Jessica Parenti also signed posters.
Those who have been to the new store are happy with the changes. Ron Godfrey, vice president for business and finance, said the remodeling has made the store appear much cleaner, which improves food safety.
“[The remodeling] has made the place look wonderful,” Godfrey said.
Jaycee Carroll, freshman guard for the USU basketball team, said the new store is “a nice place to eat ice cream and hang out with friends.”
Even though Aggie Ice Cream has a new look, the classic items are still available.
“We want people to know it is a new face for an old tradition,” Bailey said.
-abean@cc.usu.edu
Noelle Cockett, interim provost, cuts the ribbon outside of the Aggie Ice Cream store reopening Friday afternoon. (Photo by Jessica Alexander)