With the state experiencing record-breaking temperatures, you might think ice cream shops would be doing their best business to date, but Macomb Township stores report not everyone is screaming for the summertime treat.
“I’m suffering from the heat,” said Pamela Ferguson, owner of , at Romeo Plank and 23 Mile Road. “It’s was slow for two weeks straight when it was really hot. Sundays have been to the point where I think I might close (on those days).”
But despite the sweltering heat hurting her business, Ferguson said she doesn’t blame residents for wanting to stay in their air-conditioned homes.
“My guess is people just don’t want to go out,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave my house on Monday."
Ryan Aman, an employee at on Garfield and 21 Mile Road, said he finds 95 degrees is the magic temperature at which customers simply vanish.
“At about 95, people stop coming in,” he said. “Anything between 85 and 93 or so will be really busy, and then if its below that there really isn’t any effect. There is definitely a noticeable difference on a 97 or 100-degree day.”
While afternoon sales are slow across Macomb, manager Nicole Mentlewicz said her store sees an uptick in customers once the sun sets.
“We usually drop off in sales once July hits, because people go on vacation, but we’ve had some really busy days which is definitely a plus,” she said. "At 8 or 8:30 p.m., it's a mad rush."
On a good day, Mentlewicz estimates around 200 people visit the 23 Mile and Card Road store, with most sales occurring in the evening hours. And even though the high temps are keeping many customers at home, Mentlewicz said she believes this has “definitely been the best year that Scoop & Twist has ever had."
Although an August filled with 80-degree days would be ideal, Macomb's ice cream stores are bracing for another month of record-setting temps.
