By PATRICK ADRIAN
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CLAREMONT — Though many questions about this summer remain unknown amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, this past weekend in Claremont seemed to indicate that the sweet role of cold treats will remain intact.
Wade’s Place, which opened its seasonal ice cream stand this past weekend, had its busiest opening two-day span in the shop’s 20 years in operation, according to Wade’s owner Mercedes West.
“We probably served around 2,500 people [in total],” West told the Eagle Times on Tuesday. “We were serving non-stop to groups of five to seven people.”
West said that on Sunday she and her staff served customers without pause, starting immediately upon opening at noon. She also indicated that Saturday was busy.
“We served our last customer at 9:45 p.m., and we were supposed to be closed at 9 p.m.,” West said.
Like other local businesses, Wade’s Place has been forced to adapt considerably to the current health and safety precautions in response to COVID-19. West had originally intended to open for the season on Saturday, April 18, but had to postpone until the state eased its emergency order.
The two-week wait actually worked well, West said. The wait allowed her additional time to receive supplies and work on the property.
Additionally, until this past weekend, the local weather has not exactly been ideal for ice cream, with a long stretch of precipitous or chilly days.
West credited the weekend’s business to a combination of sunny, warm weather and a need for people to get a break from staying at home.
“We’ve always joked that ice cream is a great way to eat your feelings,” West said. “People are ready for summer and break out from their shell and waiting for the lockdown to end.”
This season, West has adopted similar strategies implemented by other local businesses to promote safe social distancing. A row of signs, spaced about 4 feet apart, direct customers to stand while waiting, and the grassy lawn where patrons often gather to eat their ice cream has been closed off with yellow tape.
West said that it will be important for customers, and public as a whole, to participate in social distancing and other safety precautions to prevent a virus outbreak. In cases like this past weekend, for example, the customer line often exceeded past where West can place signs. When her staff gets as busy as they were on this opening, West said they have to trust the public to act responsibly and safely. The consequences of a viral outbreak in the region could mean restaurants and businesses having to stop or reduce service again.
“We will really appreciate that everyone follows the signs in place and helps us achieve our goal and our plan,” West said.
Although Wade’s Place is only serving only 20 flavors at the moment, West said that they will continue to add flavors as the season builds. She plans to have 70 flavors in stock before the season’s end.
West said that she has not encountered any shortage or issues from her ice cream suppliers. She also appreciates having a local business community like Claremont’s, which helped her acquire supplies on short notice.
West decided to open Wade’s Place just one week after Friday, April 24, when she received approval. In just three days, 360 Design & Racing Supplies of Claremont made West a new banner for her stand, her signs and lexan windows for her service counters, the same material used for race car windshields.
West expects to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wade’s Place at some point this summer, but has not made a specific plan. For now, she is just happy to see her staff and customers again.
“We’re super happy to be back and open and see our customers,” she said. “We’re thankful they’ve let us be open for 20 years, something that not a lot of businesses are able to do. We hope to be around for another 20.”
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