We all scream for ice cream

“I want to be the ice cream queen of Wisconsin!” said Karla Verkuilen, Wittenberg’s newest entrepreneur.

Karla and her husband Rick opened Britt’s Candy and Ice Cream Shop at 502 S. Webb Street on Aug. 1 and are amazed and happy about all the business and support they’ve been getting.

The Verkuilens, who live on a hobby farm in Eland and have full time jobs, joked that they decided they wanted something to do with the extra six-seven hours they could have spent sleeping.

“Who opens a new business in the middle of a pandemic? The Verkuilens!” laughed Karla Verkuilen.

They named the shop Britt’s Candy and Ice Cream Shop after their daughter Brittany who is an army sergeant stationed in Connecticut. Since Brittany is their one and only child, they figured the shop couldn’t fail if they named it after her.

The shop features a variety of flavors of hand scooped Cedar Crest ice cream and also has soft serve available in chocolate, vanilla and twist. They have prepackaged candy available but are looking to expand into homemade candies soon.

“I think it’s a nice thing that we’ll be able to ride our bikes here and have a treat,” said Leah Fleischman, of Wittenberg, who brought her 10-year-old twin daughters for an ice cream treat before softball practice on Aug. 6, which also happened to be their birthday.

Rick Verkuilen noted they weren’t sure what to expect when they opened but weren’t surprised that their first customers were a grandma and grandson from Merrill in town looking at the murals. The murals on the walls of the village schools and businesses are part of Walls of Wittenberg, a non-profit that promotes tourism through art.

“The walls bring in a lot of people,” said Rick Verkuilen, and he’s hoping they’ll be in the mood for some ice cream.

The Verkuilens are the first to admit that they are learning the business as they go and are open to suggestions. One came from Deb Owens, owner of the building, who suggested there are a lot of people who didn’t grow up in this area and might want something different to eat other than the usual northern Wisconsin fare. Chicago dogs, also know as Vienna dogs, were a fond memory from her time living in Chicago. The Verkuilen’s took her advice to heart and sold out of the hot dogs on opening day. They plan to offer them every Saturday with all the fixings and then feature a homemade dessert or cinnamon rolls on Sundays.

Owens owns and operates Deb’s Webb Street Salon across the street and is happy to have the building rented and excited about the new business bringing new people to the downtown area.

Next door neighbor Justin White, co-owner of Xena’s Village Inn, is also happy to have a neighbor again.

“I am very happy, told all my friends and posted it on Facebook, I’m so glad to finally have another business next door,” said White, who also thinks it will be a great to have a place for the kids to go after school.

Karla Verkuilen is a custodian at the Birnamwood Elementary and Middle School in Birnamwood and Rick Verkuilen is a manager at Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork in Wausau, so for now their shop will be open Thursday through Sunday.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Britt’s Candy and Ice Cream Shop

WHERE: 502 S. Webb St., Wittenberg

WHEN: Thur. and Fri. 3-7 p.m, Sat. 12-7 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m.

WHO: Rick and Karla Verkuilen

FYI 715-326-3389 Facebook

mnelson@newmedia-wi.com