It was like stepping back in time when Stanthorpe's Groove 'n Grill diner at 21 Maryland Street opened their adjacent "Scoops 'n Treats" spectacular last Thursday, eyes lighting up after school, ready to dive into prized ice cream flavours.
Owners Brendan and Shonel Roberts said there were "determined to introduce sweets to Stanthorpe" since the opening of the diner for the Snowflakes festival last year, harkening back to their sweets bar in their former premises of Blue Topaz.
"The opportunity presented itself to expand and we are excited to currently offer lollies and scoop ice cream to local, sweet-tooth customers," Shonel told The Town & Country Journal on the day of opening, while knee deep in after-school customers. "We plan to introduce many more tasty additions in the coming weeks."
This week the outfit began offering fruit smoothies, followed by what they are calling "loaded ice creams and ice creams sandwiches" with other plans to "offer tailor made gift packs for special occasions in the future".
Of the trade, where Brendan skipped over from the diner and was chatting to locals from outside the candy-inspired premises, praising his wife behind the counter, who beamed to the customers, the couple agreed they are "overwhelmed".
"We are so pleased to have satisfied Stanthorpe and have received so much support and positive feedback," Shonel continued. "It's a pleasure to be able to put smiles on our customers faces. Tiny little people are excited to walk through the doors and be surrounded by all the selections and colour, and we've been so happy to see some of the older generations popping in to reminisce in their 'pick n mix' lolly days as kids, many moons ago."
Without a doubt, the stand out wall is the Pick 'n Mix Candy bar, with 42 bins full of favourites, also happening to be Shonel's "favourite part" of the shop.
"Our scoop ice cream has been very popular, and whilst we don't make the ice cream ourselves, we have the opportunity to offer from a selection of up to 60 different flavours and rotate these according to popular demand, from Italian-style gelato, sorbets and Ice cream selections," she said.
The Roberts duo employ 15 staff members across the two establishments.
Their children, who also were beaming last week, and no doubt since, enjoy Hokey Pokey, Boysenberry and Golden Crumb Gelato flavours in waffle cones.
"Brendan loves the lemon sorbet, while I can't possibly choose a favourite just yet, they are all yummy," Shonel said.
The hours of the ice creamery are Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm and Sundays 10am to 3pm, with longer days of operation planned for the summer holidays.
Also of note is that Groove 'n Grill is now fully licensed and they happen to have "Wings and Waffle Fries" on the go on Wednesdays from 11am.
