The Roanoker - July/August 2018 - 102

MORE PLACES FOR

SWEET TREATS!
Whether you're interested in a good
old-fashioned ice cream cone or
something a little different, here
are some of the best places in the
Roanoke area to take a break from
the blistering summer sun and have
a cool treat to beat the heat!
CHAMPLOO DESSERT
Cool off with trendy
treats such as rolled
ice cream and bubble
tea in one of the two
Champloo Dessert
locations.
Salem: 9 S College
Ave. Salem, VA
24153. 999-1229.
Roanoke: 4344
Electric Rd. Roanoke,
VA 24018. 999-1269.
POP'S ICE CREAM &
SODA BAR
Pop's Ice Cream &
Soda Bar in downtown
Roanoke has a fun,
retro feel with a menu
of award-winning
ice cream sundaes,
milkshakes and
sodas. 1916 Memorial
Ave. SW Roanoke, VA
24015.345-2129.
SALEM ICE CREAM
PARLOR
Chill out with their
wide selection of
Hershey's handdipped ice cream,
milkshakes and
banana splits that
make for a great
place to buy a scoop
(or two!). 404 W Main
St. Salem, VA 24153.
389-2373.
KELLY CAFÉ
Try ice cream or
gelato at one of the
two locations in the
area, as well as treats
like bubble tea and
macarons.
Roanoke: 3565
Electric Rd. Suite 1E
Roanoke, VA 24018.
795-5512
Salem: 1 W. Main
St. Salem, Virginia
24153.404-0057.
HERE'S THE SCOOP
For a family-friendly
atmosphere and

classic ice cream
flavors, pop in to
see their variety and
fun environment
(complete with a
rockin' jukebox!).
2033 Electric Rd.
Roanoke, VA
24018.400-6115.
KATIE'S ICE CREAM AND
CHOCOLATES
Take a breather
from the weather by
stopping into Katie's.
It's a great place to
sit down, enjoy the
air conditioning and
sip on a smoothie
or indulge in an ice
cream sundae.
3530 Electric Rd.
Roanoke, VA 24018.
776-9854.
BARE ICE CREAM
If you're looking
for more "sweet"
than "sweat," try
out Bare Ice Cream,
specializing in rolled
ice cream served in
a waffle taco, or try
out their bubble tea,
shaved ice or liquid
nitrogen-infused
cereal puffs. 5524
Williamson Rd #4
Roanoke, Virginia
24012. 366-2273.
SUNSET SLUSH OF SALEM
Sunset Slush of Salem
brings the beach to the
Blue Ridge area with
their refreshing take
on Italian ice. Mobile
Pushcart. Salem.
FRUITIONS
For a fresh and
frosty version of a
warm-weather treat,
check out Fruitions
in downtown Salem
for smoothies or light
summer snacks. 15
North College Ave
Salem, VA 24153.
389-5009.

-EMMA GROSSKOPF

102

JULY/AUGUST 2018

When your
days and years
are filled with sitting
on bleachers and along sidelines
watching your kids play their sports,
eventually your mind begins to wander around
all the other fun (but of course, not more fun)
things you might be doing if you weren't so
happily involved in watching your kids play
sports. It isn't surprising then, that the fun thing
now known as Kippy's Kustard, was dreamt up
between two moms one early spring afternoon,
sitting on bleachers, watching their sons play
high school baseball.
For years, Keller Sadler and a dear friend
would sit at their sons' baseball games and concoct
ideas for owning a business together. It was a fun
game with a ring of seriousness to it, but not yet
tested. But, Sadler says when her friend had the
idea for a mobile custard shop, citing strong
and convincing evidence for why it could work
in Roanoke, her response was, quite literally,
"Sure, why not?" Suddenly, the fun, mom-mind
wandering became a serious business endeavor.
That was March of 2016. Three months
later, on July 1st, Kippy's Kustard
was up and running.

Because the friends had had so much kidwatching time to hone in on their business
ideas, getting the stand up and running wasn't
so hard. They knew they wanted a trailer; it
would be low overhead, conducive to their
seasonal business model, mobile and simply
fun. They knew they wanted a catchy name,
something that would roll off kids' tongues
with ease as their parents were driving by. "I
want to go to Kippy's! Let's go to Kippy's!"
Sadler mimicked for me, while I chuckled,
knowing the mom genius behind the name.
They found their custard machine, tested
products, retrofitted their trailer, ordered
supplies and signs. They drove up and down
Electric Road, looking for a plaza they thought
would be a good fit and would be friendly to
having their trailer in its lot. They found such
a place at Oak Grove Plaza, whose owner was
thrilled to have them. They came up with a

menu, making it simple to start: vanilla,
chocolate and twist; in cone, cup or shakes.
Each season they've added more to the menu-
particularly in toppings and specialty desserts.
So, what makes custard different? Several
things, starting with egg yolks and butterfat.
Frozen custard (which is said to have originated
1918 on a boardwalk in Coney Island) is 10
percent butterfat and contains egg yolks (which
is what makes custard, custard). This, along
with added cream, produces a richer, creamier
product. It's less icy than regular soft-serve ice
cream and softer as well.
For me, Kippy's Kustard isn't just yummy.
Kippy's is the memory-making kind of place.
You can have your custard any way you like:
plain or full of toppings, as a shake (the
raspberry is delicious), or a specialty item
(my personal favorites are the Krazy
Kippy and Bana-na Crème Pie), as
a sundae or a float (my kids go for
Root Beer). Kippy's even has the
Pup Cup for four-legged family
members-a small vanilla custard
with dog biscuit on top. With its fun
menu, sunny yellow trailer decorated in
colored lights, and parking lot setting, Kippy's
offers customers a happy-and nostalgic-
summertime experience.
Sadler is now the sole owner and proprietor
of Kippy's Kustard. Her twins-daughter,
Jordan and son, Noah-have both joined her in
the stand, as well as several of Jordan's friends.
Sadler says spending time with her kids in
this way has been one of the best things about
having the custard stand. That, and the people
she interacts with every day.
"That's my favorite," says Sadler without
hesitation. "I love talking with people; being
with people. All the friends who come by, of
course. But anybody. We love seeing all the
smiles." I
Kippy's Kustard

Oak Grove Plaza, Electric Road
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
www.facebook.com/kippyskustard
Hours (Weather Permitting):
Sun/M/W/Th: 2PM-9PM
F/Sat: 2PM-9:30PM Tues: Closed

Check Facebook for weather related closings

TheRoanoker.com
http://www.facebook.com/kippyskustard http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker - July/August 2018

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