While it’s still the season for hot-weather treats, The Loft will add Izzy’s Ice Cream to its menu, a move dining services hopes will finally be the key to attracting business at the third-floor venue.
Even after adding a noodle bar last February, revenue remained unsatisfactory according to Gayle Lamb, dining service’s operation manager. Instead, the venue will replace the noodle soup with the sweeter treat.
Dining services has made multiple attempts to boost sales, but after an evaluation this summer, Lamb said The Loft still wasn’t hitting the mark.
“Sales were not where we expected them to be,” Lamb said. “So we thought, ‘let’s bring in Izzy’s Ice Cream.’”
Lamb said she chose the frozen dessert because it is a local brand known throughout the Twin Cities with enough presence to bring people to the third floor.
Dining services will assess the The Loft’s success with serving ice cream after each semester, she said.
“We have found when a major change is introduced it takes three semesters to fully realize the return on investment,” Lamb said.
The St. Thomas location will reflect the original shop’s prices and will be equipped with Izzy’s-trained staff, 10 flavors, waffle cones, malted milk balls and the signature “Izzy’s Scoop,” a mini scoop of an extra flavor on top.
Students will be able to pay for the treat with cash, credit card, flex or eXpress when it is expected to arrive at The Loft in a few weeks.
“We’re waiting on the manufacturing of the ice cream cabinet, so that’s sort of what’s impacting the launch date,” Sommers said.
Izzy’s co-founder and co-owner Jeff Sommers said he doesn’t get a large number of St. Thomas customers during class hours, and he said the new collaboration is a win-win for both parties.
“The daily experience of going to classes is pretty busy, sometimes hectic, and I think this offering will be a convenience purchase,” Sommers said.
Sophomore Martha McKinley said bringing the popular ice cream brand to campus has already caused a buzz among students.
“People around campus are already talking about it a lot more than the noodle bar from last year,” McKinley said.
She said the third floor location won’t affect her decision to get Izzy’s.
“Nothing stands in the way of me and ice cream,” McKinley said. “Not even stairs.”
Some students did not show as much enthusiasm. Sophomore Meredith Heneghan said she thinks the excitement of anything in The Loft will wear off due to location.
“I think The Loft is just one of those places that is not exactly central or convenient, so I think they might have trouble with whatever cool or new product they start selling up there,” Heneghan said.
Senior Nick Radjenovich is cautiously optimistic about St. Thomas’ new venture.
“I know a lot of students like Izzy’s, maybe it will bring business to The Loft. I guess we’ll see what happens,” Radjenovich said.
Molly Sigler can be reached at sigl1215@stthomas.edu.