LAKE WORTH HAS A NEW ICE CREAM STORE
LAKE WORTH — It’s been more than two months since Kilwins, the downtown Lake Worth chocolate shop, closed its Lake Avenue location after 10 years.
But The Ice Cream Affair, a new ice cream business at 508C on Lake Avenue (where former State Senator Jeff Clemens’ had his office), hopes it landed a big scoop a few doors down.
“We wanted to create something that was a little more elegant with a Palm Beach-y feel at a lower cost,” said Kate, a store manager who didn’t want her last name in print. “You’re getting what you paid for at a lower cost.”
The Ice Cream Affair opened Aug. 28. They sell everything from a big Neapolitan sandwich to a strawberry shortcake.
“I’m from Lake Worth,” said Kate, “and when Kilwins went out, we lost our ice cream store on Lake Avenue. (There’s another location at 10 S. Ocean Blvd.), which is only a small, little mile over the beach, but it seems so far away.”
Raffy Ibrahim, a Kilwins co-owner, said he’s never spoken to anyone at The Ice Cream Affair. “I don’t know them and I’m not part of that area anymore and I have nothing to say,” he said.
But customers are willing to talk.
“This is my first time here,” said Jaime Castiglie, 26, of West Palm Beach. “I think it’s beautiful. The decor is none that I’ve ever seen at an ice cream place. I’m excited to try the ice cream.”
Carmen Samaniego, 28, of Greenacres, wasn’t as enthusiastic. “The place is just OK,” she said. Kate said the company opened in the dead of season, but has still managed to make some money and create community connections.
“I’ve talked to a lot of the Lake Worth locals, which has been awesome,” she said. “We’re starting to make our place in the community, which is really important. I feel like this side of the street has been forgotten about.”
As for the company’s name, Kate said an affair is something you have, something that happens, so she wanted Lake Worthians to know that ice cream is happening on Lake Avenue.
“In the last week, we had about 35 to 45 customers and on the weekends it goes up to 55 or 60,” she said.
The store is open from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Kate said she’s aware of the challenges facing downtown Lake Worth businesses as companies have closed or moved recently because of increasing rents.
“It’s not fair and I think it’s really sad,” she said. “I grew up here so when I see businesses that have been around forever closing, it’s really unfortunate. But I want The Ice Cream Affair to be everywhere. I hope to be even bigger than Kilwins.”