 Senior biology major Lindsey Bradshaw has worked at downtown’s Custard Depot since it opened. The locally-owned shop closed this weekend after serving the community for two years. Photo by Jessica Schreck | The Appalachian “Although ice cream has a universal appeal, the business model hasn’t really worked,” said Crae Morton, an adjunct professor at Appalachian State University who owns the Howard Street shop. “It just isn’t sustainable in terms of 2012. Year one’s numbers were fine in terms of business, but we really didn’t see a significant increase during year two.”
Morton decided to close the business after going over expenses in the past few months.
“As much as I love it and as happy of a place as it is, I just can’t keep it going,” Morton said. “We’re in the weather business. If it’s nice outside, especially on the weekends, we’ll have business, but if it’s chilly then we definitely see a difference. It all comes down to the weather.”
Boone has experienced an influx of ice cream and yogurt stores recently, but Morton doesn’t feel the recent openings have affected his business.
“We have had our own niche here in downtown Boone,” he said. “I think that if another ice cream place opened downtown, then it might have.”
Although locals and tourists kept the business going, Appalachian students sampled the frozen treats as well - and worked behind the counter. Senior biology major Lindsey Bradshaw has worked at the store since it opened.
“We have had a lot of people coming in and they are sad to see it go, especially the regulars,” Bradshaw said. “It was a really happy environment and it was a lot of fun to work here and to get to know the customers.”
Though the Custard Depot is closing, Morton will still own the space and said he has already started thinking about other business prospects.
“I’m going to let the ideas develop and then decide if I need to occupy the space with another business or lease it out for a while,” he said.
Story: CATHERINE HAITHCOCK, News Reporter |
