The Ice Cream Stand readies for opening in Amos Building

SYRACUSE — The Ice Cream Stand is preparing to open in a new 1,250-square-foot, first-floor space at 200 West Water St. inside the Amos Building, across from Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse.

The small business should open later this month, says Amanda Hughes, owner and operator of the Ice Cream Stand, who spoke with CNYBJ on April 10.

“I’m so excited about this space,” she says. “I love living downtown and it means a lot to be able to bring the business downtown as well.”

The Ice Cream Stand previously operated in an 800-square-foot space at 7265 Buckley Road in Clay, next to CoreLife Eatery. Hughes opened the business in April 2016

Some friends and even members of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. had reached out to her about the Amos Building space, says Hughes, noting that she wasn’t looking to expand or move at the time.

“When I walked into this space, I saw everything that I wanted for the future of the business, and it just seemed to make sense,” says Hughes. 

When asked if the summer-weekend activities and festivals in and around Clinton Square were a factor in her decision to move the business there, Hughes replied, “Yes, it definitely was … We were really excited about all the foot traffic.” 

Hughes also notes that as a downtown resident, she enjoys the summertime festivals, and is “really excited” about the chance to be part of those as a business owner.

The business will be open seven days a week for most of the year, but could cut back to five days a week during the winter months. 

She plans to start the downtown location with 10 part-time employees and will hire additional staff as needed.

“I certainly hope we’ll need more than 10,” Hughes says with a smile and chuckle. 

Hughes rents her space in the Amos Building from developer Mark Congel. Contractor Mike LaFrance helped prepare the space for business and the work started last fall, according to Hughes. She declined to disclose how much it is costing to open her ice-cream business in the new space.

The Ice Cream Stand will serve ice cream from suppliers that include Upstate Farms and Skowhegan, and Maine–based Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream. 

The Ice Cream Stand will offer soft serve ice cream, vegan, and dairy-free alternatives. It’ll also offer hard ice cream by the scoop, shakes, floats, flurries, as well as some baked goods. 

The business has a website, which remains under construction with links to its social-media channels at the bottom of the page.

Owner’s background

Hughes’ family has a history in the food-service business. She says her grandparents, George and Lee Gelsomin, were the owners of the Sweetheart Market that once operated at the corner of Route 11 and Taft Road in the town of Clay. The iconic heart-shaped sign bearing the phrase “Sweetheart Corner” still remains.

Hughes graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School in 1999. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Duke University in 2004. Hughes also earned her MBA degree from Long Island University-Brooklyn (LIU-Brooklyn) in 2013. 

After graduating from Duke, Hughes served as an executive assistant at the Reznick Group (now Cohn Reznick); an athlete recruiter with Redondo Beach, California–based Velocity Sports Performance; an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Davidson College in North Carolina; a graduate assistant women’s lacrosse coach and an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at LIU-Brooklyn; and served as a marketing intern with the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association at Madison Square Garden, according to Hughes’ LinkedIn page.

She eventually returned to Central New York.

SYRACUSE — The Ice Cream Stand is preparing to open in a new 1,250-square-foot, first-floor space at 200 West Water St. inside the Amos Building, across from Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse.

The small business should open later this month, says Amanda Hughes, owner and operator of the Ice Cream Stand, who spoke with CNYBJ on April 10.

“I’m so excited about this space,” she says. “I love living downtown and it means a lot to be able to bring the business downtown as well.”

The Ice Cream Stand previously operated in an 800-square-foot space at 7265 Buckley Road in Clay, next to CoreLife Eatery. Hughes opened the business in April 2016

Some friends and even members of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. had reached out to her about the Amos Building space, says Hughes, noting that she wasn’t looking to expand or move at the time.

“When I walked into this space, I saw everything that I wanted for the future of the business, and it just seemed to make sense,” says Hughes. 

When asked if the summer-weekend activities and festivals in and around Clinton Square were a factor in her decision to move the business there, Hughes replied, “Yes, it definitely was … We were really excited about all the foot traffic.” 

Hughes also notes that as a downtown resident, she enjoys the summertime festivals, and is “really excited” about the chance to be part of those as a business owner.

The business will be open seven days a week for most of the year, but could cut back to five days a week during the winter months. 

She plans to start the downtown location with 10 part-time employees and will hire additional staff as needed.

“I certainly hope we’ll need more than 10,” Hughes says with a smile and chuckle. 

Hughes rents her space in the Amos Building from developer Mark Congel. Contractor Mike LaFrance helped prepare the space for business and the work started last fall, according to Hughes. She declined to disclose how much it is costing to open her ice-cream business in the new space.

The Ice Cream Stand will serve ice cream from suppliers that include Upstate Farms and Skowhegan, and Maine–based Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream. 

The Ice Cream Stand will offer soft serve ice cream, vegan, and dairy-free alternatives. It’ll also offer hard ice cream by the scoop, shakes, floats, flurries, as well as some baked goods. 

The business has a website, which remains under construction with links to its social-media channels at the bottom of the page.

Owner’s background

Hughes’ family has a history in the food-service business. She says her grandparents, George and Lee Gelsomin, were the owners of the Sweetheart Market that once operated at the corner of Route 11 and Taft Road in the town of Clay. The iconic heart-shaped sign bearing the phrase “Sweetheart Corner” still remains.

Hughes graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School in 1999. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Duke University in 2004. Hughes also earned her MBA degree from Long Island University-Brooklyn (LIU-Brooklyn) in 2013. 

After graduating from Duke, Hughes served as an executive assistant at the Reznick Group (now Cohn Reznick); an athlete recruiter with Redondo Beach, California–based Velocity Sports Performance; an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Davidson College in North Carolina; a graduate assistant women’s lacrosse coach and an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at LIU-Brooklyn; and served as a marketing intern with the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association at Madison Square Garden, according to Hughes’ LinkedIn page.

She eventually returned to Central New York.