Neighbors General Store & Ice Cream Parlor, Port Orange, Fla.

Port Orange, Fla.—Neighbors General Store & Ice Cream Parlor serves locals. “We have a lot of local people making local products for us. I think it really makes a difference in the finished product,” said co-owner Michelle Zimmerman at a 2013 interview.

Co-owner Michelle Zimmerman, Neighbors General Store & Ice Cream Parlor,
Port Orange, Fla.,
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

This support also extends to local farmers. “When the Florida cantaloupes get really in season I make cantaloupe ice cream. It’s really good,” said Zimmerman with a smile.

They make ice cream five days a week, “I do a lot of seasonal ice cream,” said Zimmerman. They buy fresh fruit, turn it into a puree, use what they can and freeze the rest. This means they can have fruit ice creams like strawberry, mango and blueberry out of season.

Zimmerman got the idea for the store after visiting country-style stores during summer camping trips. Along with the ice cream parlor the store contains a working post office, grocery and eatery.

Front entrance of Neighbors General Store & Ice Cream Parlor,
Port Orange, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

There’s a bit of everything in the store including items from Shark Tank businesses and Free-Trade articles from Guyana.

There is also a collection of old time American sodas in a cooler case at the front of the store.

“I think we are getting enough unique things that people are coming from far away to here,” said Zimmerman.

The store is located at 5980 Spruce Creek Rd., Port Orange, FL 32127

Phone (386) 492-2930

Open most days at 7 am and closing varies from 9 pm during the week and 10 pm on Friday & Saturday.

You can visit their website http://neighborsicecream.com