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CONWAY SPRINGS – There’s a new spot for ice cream, pies and cheesecakes, and coffee and muffins in Sumner County.

The Daily Scoop had a soft opening on Monday last week in Conway Springs, and celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Saturday. The business, owned by Wade and Daphne Kennard, is located in the former Osner Hall at 203 W. Spring Ave.

The original idea started with Wade. His pitch started with, “Hey honey, I think this would be cool,” he recalled last week.

Daphne’s response was... not negative.

“I didn’t say ‘no,’” she said with a laugh.

Osner Hall was not for sale, but a deal was reached for the Kennards to take over last October. Built in 1900, the building has been many things over the past 120 years, including a tack shop, a soda shop, and Cline’s Market, Conway Springs’ first grocery store. Daphne said it was a soda shop when she was in high school.

The building also has been empty at different times.

The Kennards planned to just paint and replace the ceiling, but the project quickly got bigger. They wound up gutting the structure, creating a clean, fresh look.

“It’s hard to know when to stop,” Daphne said.

Wade said it became a “weekend warrior” project for them, since both have full-time jobs. They also own a lawn mowing business.

“We saw a need in town,” Daphne said, explaining why they opened an ice cream shop.

“There was nothing in town for kids, or jobs for teens,” Wade added.

Their daughters are on staff and will help run the store. There are about 12 high school students on staff. Daphne’s job in the Conway Springs High School office gave her easy access to a large pool of employee candidates.

Two other very key employees are Wade’s dad and stepmom, Bob and C.J. Bob Kennard is originally from Maize, while C.J. is a Michigan native. They are the store’s resident bakers, providing homemade pies and cheesecakes as well as muffins. The couple owned a pie and cheesecake store in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for 12 years.

Speaking of Michigan, that’s where the store’s Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream comes from. The recommendation to use Ashby’s came from Clint and Jenny Osner, owners of Hired Man’s Grocery and Grill, who came across the company at a Nebraska food show.

Daphne and daughter Melainy love Mackinac Island Fudge, also called Mac Fudge. Wade’s favorite is cool mint cookie. Their other daughter, Bailey, prefers Blue Moon, a bright blue ice cream with a nutty and fruity flavor.

Through the first week, the most popular flavor among children seemed to be Play Dough. It looks like the famous clay-like plaything, although it does not have the smell. It’s actually chocolate chip cookie dough, but the ice cream is a bright yellow and the cookie dough chunks are red and blue.

Daphne said Ashby’s has a higher butter fat content, which makes for a creamier ice cream. They also have a “fun” selection of ice cream flavors, she said, like O-O-Orea, Puppy Chow, Superman, Cow Tippin’ and carrot cake. Unicorn stars might be the weirdest. It tastes like cake, with purple vanilla ice cream mixed with blue frosting, glitter-star candies and sprinkles.

Coffee and muffins are available in the morning, and the coffee-drinking crowd has quickly made it a routine to spend part of the morning at The Daily Scoop. Late afternoons have been busy as children and families come in.

Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Hours may change once school begins.

The Kennards are looking to be a social hub for the community. One plan is to have watch parties during Conway Springs Cardinals varsity road games.

You can find The Daily Scoop on both Facebook and Instagram.