GSBDC Helps Fund Historic Syracuse Ice Cream Shop

Melissa Menon used the SBA’s 504 loan program and GSBDC’s CCHEF loan programs to purchase an existing ice cream stand and restaurant known as Arctic Island and the Broadway Cafe’ a seasonal ice cream stand and a sit-down restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner located on West Seneca Turnpike in Syracuse, New York.   

As a WBE Melissa will employ five full-time employees and about 20 part-time customer/food service personnel and seasonal ice cream stand servers. Arctic Island was founded in 1948 as an ice cream stand serving ice cream in the Valley neighborhood of Syracuse and is a community mainstay. Melissa’s ice cream is made on the premises using fresh local dairy farm products and other high-quality ingredients. The delicious flavors are made in small batches to ensure freshness and a robust flavor profile. Both pints and quarts are all hand scooped and packed fresh.  Ice cream cakes are made to order and can be decorated for any occasion. The Broadway Cafe is a quick serve cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The restaurant offers a wide variety of pizzas, specialty sandwiches, salads, breakfast sandwiches, burritos and locally roasted coffee as well as providing catering services for private events, holiday parties, birthday parties and other functions.