GREENFIELD — Libby Wyatt had no desire to start a second ice cream shop.
She opened Libby’s Ice Cream & Gifts in Fortville in 2019 and was doing just fine. When a Greenfield businesswoman reached out to her about taking on space she had available, Wyatt’s initial reaction was no.
“I liked my lifestyle,” she said. “I was just getting comfortable … Then I came, and I saw, and I was like, well, that’d just be dumb not to,” she said.
With a new park being developed right across the street, it was too good of an opportunity to turn down. And so Libby’s Ice Cream opened at 120 S. Pennsylvania St. just in time for summer.
The walk-up ice cream shop is just north of where Depot Street Park is going in between Depot Street, South Pennsylvania Street, Riley Avenue and the Pennsy Trail. Slated for completion later this year, the park will feature an amphitheater, performance space, seating, areas for art and an event lawn.
Dana Cottey and her husband own the building on Pennsylvania Street, which her barber shop, Downtown Cuts, also shares.
“Ever since we knew they were going to put a park over there, we just knew this would be the perfect place,” Cottey said. “There is no better place in Greenfield for ice cream than right here — right off the Pennsy Trail, the park’s going to be across the street.”
Wyatt agrees the upcoming amenity makes the location ideal for ice cream.
“What the city is building is going to be amazing,” Wyatt said. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
The Cotteys didn’t want just any ice cream shop, but rather one backed by someone with experience owning a business. They thought Wyatt would be a perfect fit, knowing she and her husband own several businesses, including an ice cream shop.
Wyatt said she was impressed with Greenfield Main Street and the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce, adding the city and Hancock County Board of Health were helpful with her new venture as well.
“It seemed like a good community to move into,” she said.
Her Greenfield location will be seasonal, closing sometime in October. She wants to be open for downtown’s annual Riley Festival, which returns Oct. 7 through 10 after last year’s event had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preparing the space of about 300 square feet wasn’t too extensive, consisting mainly of installing some sinks and ensuring the electricity was up to code. Sheri Jones of Fortville-based Studio 309 painted a bright sherberty mural on a wall in the fashion of the ones she did at Wyatt’s original location in Fortville.
Wyatt isn’t experiencing the worker shortage so many other businesses are reporting. She recently hired 11 employees and is getting ready to hire more.
“I’ve had no problem,” she said.
Libby’s Ice Cream offers a variety of flavors for cones and dishes. The menu also includes sundaes, banana splits, ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes, malts, smoothies, root beer floats and more. There are even “Pup Cups” for visitors’ canine companions.
Alyson Geyer of Greenfield stopped by recently with her three young children and baby she was babysitting.
“We’ve heard great things about Libby’s from the Fortville location, but we’ve never tried it,” she said.
Her query to her kids about their treats was met with a chorus of “It’s good!” and “Delicious!”
Like Wyatt and Cottey, she also feels the park and shop will complement each other nicely.
“And with the Pennsy Trail so close, I think people will walk over and check out the new place,” she said.
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WHAT: Libby’s Ice Cream
WHEN: Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (closes for season in October)
WHERE: 120 S. Pennsylvania St., Greenfield
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