The Future is Sweeter than Three Scoops of Chocolate

By Ron Fitzwater

Sometimes second careers can be scary to jump into. So after 20 plus years in the construction trades Gwyn

Day wasn't completely sure what he wanted to do when health reasons ended his home building days. Day did have a place for his new working life, located smack dab in the middle of West Jefferson.

"Our landlords were really great getting us up and going and I really appreciate the [Bill and JoAnne] Woodie for all they have done to help and encourage us to get up and going and make it through the first year.

May 23, 2008, saw the opening of the doors of Good Old Days Ice Cream, Candies and More on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Main Street in West Jefferson and now, with the first anniversary drawing near, business is just getting better, no small feat in the current economic climate.

"The local people are what has kept us going, especially throughout the winter. They are our bread and butter. There were a few times when we thought we might have to shut down during the colder months but the community really helped us stay afloat," Day said.

"We are just tickled to death with the way we have been treated and can't think of how to say thank you.

"The winter was really rough but we kept the lights on and the doors open and you can't ask more than that for an ice cream shop, but overall it has been a really good year," Day said.

As happy as Day is to be finding success at the downtown spot, he gets his greatest reward from the people, and especially the children and teens, that frequent his place. To celebrate the folks who frequent his business, Day has some rather interesting art on the walls-photographs of many of the people who have come in.

"We hope to keep the pictures going and have all our walls filled with happy faces," Day said. The pictures are a sort of local social barometer, as well as just fun, and Day said he keeps up with who is dating who from the appearance and disappearance of boyfriend/girlfriend pictures on the wall.

"They'll break-up and then sneak in and slip the picture off the wall. It's cute." Day said that teens aren't the only ones updating their love lives and that he has seen the disappearance of a few adult couple shots from the board as well.

To celebrate the anniversary, the Days will be hosting first year anniversary customer appreciation day with special prices and a few surprises to say 'thank you' to those who have helped them get settled in and comfortable.

"We wanted to do a little something for the folks who have made us feel so welcome. So to celebrate our first year anniversary we will be serving $1 hotdogs and $1 ice cream to all customers who stop by between 12 noon and 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 23rd."

There is room for some growth at the shop and Day, along with his wife Jannet, the woman who Day credits with the shops success, have plans to make a few changes to better serve his guests.

"We have already moved our candy displays to the backroom and have put in a little more seating. We would like to put some bistro tables out on the sidewalks, but we have to see what the town will permit us to do. Right now, it is about providing our customers with a place to sit down and relax," Day said.

One other thing that Day is going to experiment with is staying open longer on Saturday night, from 12:00 a.m. until the crowd is gone.

Good Old Days Ice Cream, Candies and More is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 10 p.m. serving traditional ice cream treats such as sundaes, banana splits and milkshakes along with all beef hot dogs and pork barbecue sandwiches. In addition to service inside the front door, Good Old Days will deliver to downtown businesses for a minimum $15 order.

For more information or to make an order, call locally, (336) 846-2535.