Customers were waiting as doors opened at the newly-imagined dessert shop on State Street, Hamburg. Sweet Treats, formerly known as A La Mode, held a grand opening event on March 24 and 25.
Stepping out to hang his “open” flag on Saturday, owner Chris Yost greeted the customers waiting to check out the renovated location. The grand opening event included a full menu of ice cream treats and other dessert and drink options.
“It’s newly renovated, with a clean environment with new ice cream produces and new designs,” Yost said, and he hopes the changes will please customers.
Grand opening customers were offered free thermal travel mugs while supplies lasted. They could also enter a drawing for a Keurig coffee machine plus six boxes of coffee pods. The winner, drawn after opening weekend, was Del Hollenbach.
Yost and his business partner, Jeff Pettit, also run Hermansader’s Garage and Auto Sales.
“I just like owning different types of businesses,” Yost explained, adding, “Hamburg is a tight knit community. Everyone gets along and it has a lot of potential. It’s a nice, clean town.”
The dessert shop is his first foray into a retail food business, Yost said. He jumped at the opportunity when he learned the previous owner of A La Mode, Kristy Hyatt, was looking to close. He rents the State Street location but bought Hyatt’s equipment and customer base.
After the sale in early January, work began on the store’s “face-lift.”
“We did renovations, color changes and new layout,” Yost said, noting that Tim Best of local print shop, Bestonium, helped create and install new signage.
Yost chose to keep most of Hyatt’s ice cream menu intact including Leiby’s ice cream. New menu offerings include Philly-style cheesecake, Blue Bunny novelties and an expanded ice-cream sundae option. During lingering cold weather, the shop will also offer waffle ice-cream sandwiches and coffee floats.
Yost said the community responded well to the grand opening event.
“We had over 320 people. The weekend was good,” he confirmed, with things slowing down a bit by Sunday night. “Now it seems to be picking up.”
Under his management, Sweet Treats has new hours: 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. The shop, located at 234 State St., Hamburg, will be closed on holidays. Call 484-788-1218 for more information.
