New Harrison Creamery owners hope to hit folks' sweet spot
<p>Bill Wright, a carpenter with Basso Construction, works on a drainage system that will divert water from the sidewalk, to be poured in the next couple of days, during renovation work on the Harrison Creamery and Fudge Factory last Wednesday in Harrison.</p>
HARRISON - John Thiele got the scoop on doing business in Harrison when two boys walked into the historic building he's renovating for his Harrison Creamery and Fudge Factory.
"They said, 'Mr. Thiele, can we help you?'" said Thiele. He and his wife, Lorraine, are the new owners of what was simply called The Creamery.
"I was so impressed that they initiated the conversation and politely offered to help."
Thiele said he wasn't able to put the boys to work on the spot, but he offered one of the boys a job after he turns 14 next month.
The Thieles, who live in Carlin Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene, plan to open the popular summer stop for boaters and bikers on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes on May 1 and expand the sweet offerings after a major renovation.
"We've been keeping our eye on that store for the past 10 years and always thought that it would be fun to have an ice cream shop in a little town," Lorraine said.
In addition to offering at least 32 flavors of ice cream, pies made in the store, green smoothies, cheesecake, cookies for making ice cream sandwiches, healthy treats for the trail, vegan frozen desserts and gluten-free cones will be available.
"It will be a true sweet shop," Lorraine said. "Something for everyone."
Back by popular demand will be the large ice cream servings for which The Creamery was known. The business, formerly owned by Pamela Barnhouse, will also see the return of punch cards., Lorraine said.
Lorraine said the building is more than 100 years old, but she's not sure of the exact year that it was built.
"We found some newspapers that were stuffed in the walls (for insulation) from 1929," she said.
The building was formerly a bank.
"There's rocks thrown together with concrete in the basement so people couldn't tunnel up to get to the vault; that's the story I heard," Lorraine said.
The interior has been gutted but the old wood floors are being restored.
"The building has changed hands so many times and there's been so much re-construction that it doesn't meet the requirements of the history registry," she said, adding that the historic flavor of the business will be maintained as much as possible.
Wireless Internet, heating, air conditioning and indoor and outdoor seating are being added as the couple will expand the season to the end of October and possibly be open during the holidays and community events. The shop has closed after Labor Day in recent years.
The Thieles are volunteers with the East Side Fire District. Lorraine also is a volunteer for Harrison Ambulance.
"(The sweet shop) is our next big project," Lorraine said.
John summarized what he believes is a two-way street emerging between the business and community.
"There is a life here that I'd never seen," he said. "Pride, love and simpleness."