When you step into Bonnie Brae Ice Cream you may feel as if you are stepping into a different era; an era perhaps of the 1930s and 40s where businesses were locally owned and customers all knew each other.
This was the aim of Judy and Ken Simon and Cindy and Bob Pailet when they first opened the Bonnie Brae ice cream shop only a little over 20 years ago. The owners love for ice cream and their desire to make the best ice cream possible led them to open their mom-and-pop shop in July 1986.
It is shocking to many that the Bonnie Brae shop has only been around for a relatively short time. In fact when asked why she liked the shop, Sarah Young, a former DU student described the shop as “cute.”
Co-owner Pailet believes Bonnie Brae is a better choice than the chain ice cream shops because of the attention the owners give to the business.
Pailet said, “We are family owned and this is our baby. We have a passion for making the best ice cream possible and having the best experience when people come into our store. In this case it’s two moms and two pops. We love the store, our customers and the kind words people give us.”
When the store opened in the summer of 1986, 28 ice cream flavors were offered to customers. That same 28 are still offered today. Most flavors are common to any ice cream store but, as Pailet explained, the two unique flavors are triple death chocolate and cappuccino crunch.
The shop differs from other ice cream stores when choosing its ingredients as well. Pailet said, “Our ice cream is all natural and we choose our ingredients based on what is the highest quality regardless of price. We look at the best quality and taste.”
To that end the triple death chocolate ice cream includes fudge, chocolate chips and pieces of Belgian chocolate. The cappuccino crunch contains cappuccino as well as coffee pieces.
Pailet said, “There is a very good chance one of the members of his family will take over the business.” Although it is good to know that the family tradition will be carried on Pailet and his partners plan to run their ice cream shop for many years to come
As the summer approaches Bonnie Brae ice-cream shop is certainly an optimal choice for the DU student looking for a change from all that Ben and Jerry’s. According to Pailet DU students as a whole have historically been very loyal customers. So this quarter when you’re looking for a something new to do consider, check out the ice cream shop in the Bonnie Brae area, on South University Boulevard.
