Get the scoop on all the options for people and pups
Harley (left) and Lori Oemig are learning as they go, when it comes to their new venture, The Main Scoop. To go along with the flavors of Cedar Crest ice cream, Bavarian pretzels with cheese and smoothies are also available, along with other snack options. Photo by Ginna Young
By Ginna Young
When you step over the threshold at The Main Scoop in Cornell, it feels like you’ve stepped into an old-time soda shop, with updated snack favorites. New owners Harley and Lori Oemig purchased the business last fall, from long-time operators Ann and Paul Sonderegger, who retired to Texas.
The Main Street venture is a new experience for the Oemigs, with Harley also owning Hometown Tax & Accounting, and Lori with a career as a radiation technician. But, that doesn’t stop them from drawing on the Sondereggers’ advice or learning as they go.
“We’re just trying to make use of our little space here,” said Harley.
“It was so congested before, with the ice cream right there, agreed Lori. “Half the people didn’t even know there was more ice cream back here, before.”
Almost gutting the tiny interior of the shop, the Oemigs made the space feel roomy, by removing the front ice cream cooler to the back, to join the second cooler and installing a money counter up front. They also left the bench along the half wall where it was, but the booths and tables are new-to-them acquisitions from a place that closed in Fall Creek.
Lori and Harley planned where they wanted everything to go and started from scratch, but they did leave the large wall mural depicting local spots.
They also have a new logo, designed by their 11-year-old daughter, Gabbie. Along with the logo, are expanded hours – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily, until the end of October.
“Then, we’ll see,” said Harley. “It might be weekends, after that.”
Of course, the shop has what it became known for, with 27 flavors of ice cream to choose from, along with shakes and malts, but the Oemigs go beyond that.
“There are a ton of new items,” said Lori. Included in that, are smartfruit smoothies, that are 100 percent fruit and vegetable drinks, with nothing else added, a good option for those who want a lighter treat.
“We’re the healthy ice cream shop,” said Harley.
“They seem really excited about it,” said Lori of the customers’ reactions. “And they taste phenomenal.”
If you don’t care about counting calories, well, that’s not a problem either.
“Our big thing, is the ice cream nachos,” said Harley.
In researching what people are looking for, Lori found that no one has any ice cream nachos around Eau Claire, which is kind of the next thing. Lori makes her own whipped cream on-site, which is placed over scoops of ice cream and butter waffle cookies pieces in a nacho tray, with chocolate or caramel sauce drizzled over all.
“It’s a meal,” said Harley.
Also a hit at the shop, is the candy corner; for now, there are mostly gummi items, rock candy and mega slime lickers, but old-fashioned candy is on the wish list.
The shop is also home to retail items from local producers, such as Nohr Honey (Cornell), Yellowstone Cheese curds (Cadott), Mason Maple Syrup (Stanley), Rump’s Butcher Shoppe brats, old-fashioned hot dogs and snack sticks (Altoona) and flavors of Sprecher soda (Glendale).
“We wanted to try to do a lot of local things, if possible,” said Lori. “If you want to have a float, you can pair it with any of our options with Sprecher products. We’ve had somebody pair firecracker, with grape soda, as a float.”
JM Screen Printing & More apparel, and Friends of Brunet Island State Park shirts and stickers, are also for sale in the shop.
It’s no secret that ice cream is enjoyed by all ages, but canines also are enjoying the “pup cups” the shop offers. For those who have allergies or just want to indulge later on, there are pints of ice cream to take home, as well as sorbet and sugar-free ice cream.
“We try to accommodate people if we can,” said Lori.
So much so, that people are encouraged to mix their ice cream or their smoothie combinations.
“No rules here,” said Harley.
Since opening in the middle of May, the Oemigs hired nine teenagers to help run the shop in shifts and are getting ready for the July 3 celebration, based on the Sondereggers’ instructions. They’ll also be open a couple extra hours that day.
“We have really good help,” said Lori.
There’s probably still a lot to learn and some changes may come down the road, but for now, the Oemigs are happy with how things are set up and the variety available in the shop.
“We’re trying to keep it simple, but offer more options,” said Lori.
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An outdoor patio seating area is filled with flowers, which were lovingly tended by former owner Ann Sonderegger, but are now diligently taken care of by flower enthusiast Shelley DeJongh. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]
