By Charlotte Boynton
A new sign for QT’s Ice Cream Parlor, at 47 Railroad Ave. in Wiscasset, notes Lear’s ice cream will soon be served. The sign will be posted at the grand opening Sunday, April 12, at 11 a.m. Shown left to right, QT’s owner Tammy Brooks with Pam and Ron Lear, former owners of the Lear’s Ice Cream shop. (Charlotte Boynton photo) |
Ron and Pam Lear have sold their popular Wiscasset ice cream shop to Tammy and Quintin Brooks of Whitefield.
The new business will continue to sell Lear’s old fashioned home-made ice cream, under the name QT’s Ice Cream Parlor. QT’s will open Sunday, April 12, at 11 a.m. offering 20 flavors of ice cream.
Since the Brooks are new to the ice cream business, the Lears said they plan to stay on for a a while to help the Brooks get started. The Lears founded the business six years ago with the purchase of six ice cream recipes. In the years since, the Lears developed 49 different ice cream recipes.
The Lears said they will continue to make ice cream, and plan to focus on the commercial production side of the business by having their ice cream sold in local businesses in the area.
“After six years of seven days a week, it’s time to pass on the scoop,” Pam Lear said.
Under the Lears, the ice cream shop was a family affair with the Lear children, Garrett and Kristin, helping in the summer. It will continue to be a family business with two of the Brooks’ children, Rebekah, and Keagan, lending a hand.
The Brooks have a third son Kayle, who is too young at this time to help with the business, Tammy Brooks said.
According to Tammy Brooks, until recently, the only dealings she had with the ice cream business is when she was a little girl and was friends with the daughter of the owner of the Friendship Scoop.
“Even then, at that early age, I enjoyed being around the ice cream and helping out.” Tammy said with a chuckle.
Quintin Brooks is currently employed as delivery truck driver for Down East Trucking, Tammy Brooks recently retired, after 10 years, from the Maine Department of Human Services, to enter the ice cream business.
The new owners said they plan to continue supporting the Wiscasset Public Library’s summer reading program. The young readers who complete the program will be given a free ice cream cone at the parlor.
Tammy Brooks said she is looking forward to opening the business and carrying on the traditions and service the Lears have provided their customers over the years.
The QT Ice Cream Parlor located at 47 Railroad Ave., just below Red’s Eats, will be open Monday through Thursday, from 1 to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Further information on the new business is available on Facebook.