MANSFIELD — Tara Beaire loves flowers. The owner of Tara’s Floral Expressions also loves ice cream.
So, the woman who is passionate about building up downtown Mansfield, intends to open The Chill Downtown Ice Cream Parlor on Wednesday, June 21 at 46 West 4th St.
“Probably 10 years ago, I said, ‘If I ever decide to get out of the floral business then I would like to have a little ice cream stand.”
Now she’ll have both.
The ice cream parlor, which will serve Toft’s ice cream, is attached to Tara’s Floral Expressions. But the former will have its own entrance.
A few tables, chairs and an oversized Styrofoam ice cream cone will be placed outside for people to enjoy the weather. More seating is available inside, too. Other ice cream shop memorabilia will add to the interior over time.
“(The Styrofoam cone) was here in the building, we found it in the basement so we jazzed it up and we’ll use it,” Beaire said.
It could be from the days when a business called Sweet Memories sold ice cream from this location.
Beaire recalls working for the Stuhldreher Floral Company, which was located where her own floral shop opened earlier this year, 48 West 4th St. That was in the early ’90s, and she fondly recalls stopping by for ice cream after her shifts.
“The one thing I remember about it (Sweet Memories) is that they made fresh waffle cones every day, so we are going to continue that,” Beaire said.
Since then, she seen many businesses come and go. The building stood vacant when she purchased the downtown space in November 2016.
“I kept driving by saying, ‘I wish someone would do something with that building,’” Beaire said.
She believes that person was “meant to be” her.
Tara’s Floral Expressions moved to the location in January from its previous location at the West Park Shopping Center on Park Avenue West.
She knew then that she wanted to open an ice cream parlor, but didn’t want to rush into it.
With the annual upcoming Mansfield Children’s Festival held at the intersection of 4th and Walnut Street and Richland Carrousel Park, she decided to set her sights on a June opening.
The Chill Downtown Ice Cream Parlor’s menu features eight different ice cream flavors. They may rotate, but the case can only fit about eight at a time.
The menu also includes specialty items like a Brickyard Brownie, Carousel Sundae and Chiller flurries, similar to a Blizzard or McFlurry.
Rosati ice is also available as a vegan option. Beaire anticipates that this area may expand as business grows.
Eventually, she’d also like to hold “Acoustic Jam” sessions on the sidewalk. Her son, Chase Beaire, who recently graduated high school, is a local musician.
Tara Beaire worked at an ice cream stand at one point in her life, so she hopes to reuse some of those skills, scooping cones for customers. But she’s hired some local workers to handle the operations.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Beaire says this may change as the business matures. She intends to remain open year-round.
The ice cream parlor doesn’t have a Facebook page yet, but until its ready, Beaire is posting updates at Tara’s Floral Arrangement’s Facebook page.
