With the coming of warm weather and sunny days, the taste of an ice-cold, creamy substance titillating the tongues of East Lansing residents nostalgically returns.
And the owners of Melting Moments, 313 E. Grand River Ave., plan to be open in time to satisfy those longings.
The ice cream shop covered its windows and closed during the winter to renovate the shop, and update the look to accommodate a partnership with Backyard Bar-B-Q, 2329 Jolly Road in Okemos.
"We've been the same for a long time," said Mark Geovjian, owner of Melting Moments. "We moved some equipment out and decided to remodel the store."
The shop hasn't been renovated in at least seven years, Geovjian said.
Until last month, the shop advertised that it would open by February once renovations were completed. However, the date was pushed back to April because of unforeseen issues.
"It just takes longer than you expected," Geovjian said. "It took a while longer to get all the plans together and then the contractors. There's nothing we can do about the forces out there that have held us up."
Cold Stone Creamery, 200 M.A.C. Ave., and MSU's two Dairy Store locations are among the other ice cream shops available in the city.
Melting Moments has been an East Lansing staple for 23 years, so Geovjian hopes the shop's reputation will be enough to bring customers back.
"We've been around long enough that people will come back and be pleased with the new Melting's," he said.
Returning customers will not only be introduced to a new look, but the new centennial ice cream. In honor of the city's 100th anniversary, the East Lansing Centennial Commission asked Melting Moments to create the flavor.
"They are a long-standing business in East Lansing," Council member Beverly Baten said. "It would only be natural for us to select a local merchant."
The store decided to turn the creation of the new ice cream into a community contest, where community members were able to submit their ideas for the flavor.
The city originally had 98 choices, which will be narrowed down to a final three, Baten said. Those three flavors will be chosen from "The Great 8" choices, which people can vote for through the city's main Web site at www.cityofeastlansing.com.
"I'm certainly grateful they called us," Geovjian said. "Our reputation for making our own ice cream had something to do with it."
During the shop's grand re-opening in April, Geovjian said the flavors will be available for people to try.
Customers also will be introduced to Backyard Bar-B-Q, which will operate out of the Melting Moments location.
The partnership, which has been six months in planning, will give customers the opportunity to purchase food items such as barbecue sandwiches and corned beef at the establishment.
"They've been in business almost 11 years, and we have a mutual respect of each other's product and business," Geovjian said.
The partnership is financially easier for the two businesses that will not only share facilities but also the overhead sign.
"It's just a combination of two great products," he said. "It also will introduce our customers to Backyard Bar-B-Q and their customers to Melting Moments."
