Reasons To Be
Cheerful/VisitingNewEngland small business partnership - Local Small Business Stories
Many Reasons to Be Cheerful in West Concord, Mass.
Why this special
neighborhood ice cream shop gets 6 stars out of a possible 5 from
VisitingNewEngland!
Tyler Smith, general manager of Reasons To Be Cheerful.
Article and photos, unless otherwise noted, by Eric Hurwitz.
Article
updated on 7/1/2019.
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Suddenly, the world feels so happy when walking into Reasons
To Be Cheerful in West Concord, Mass.
The delicious homemade ice cream made in small batches certainly serves
as the foundation to that special feeling, but many other elements
saturate the senses to create something even more truly memorable. The
old colonial home setting with a front porch sets the tone for a most
welcoming entrance en route to the fabulous ice cream, pastries, smoothies, ice
cream cakes and fountain drinks.
Outside Reasons To Be Cheerful. Photo source: Reasons To Be
Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
The shiny wooden floors, tiled counter and colorful chalkboard menus
evoke a classic neighborhood ice cream parlor from yesteryear while the
renovation of that interior yields a relevant 21st century vibe. This
delightful ice cream shop is named
after the 1979 song of the same name by Ian Dury and the Blockheads.
The song rapidly recites 40 reasons to be cheerful in a little over six
minutes. The Concord ice cream shop has taken the marathon route going
way beyond that number with
more than 350 ice cream flavors created since its opening in 2011, not
to mention all the memories created virtually every day.
General Manager Tyler Smith creates a wonderful tone for families,
bicyclists taking a break from small-town USA scenes in Concord, local
business people and all walks of life. A Texas native with degrees in
sociology and advertising from Texas Tech Univesity, Tyler is gracious,
thoughtful,
friendly and authentic -- someone who feels like
a good friend upon the very first time meeting. With a strong work ethic, his business card accurately
states, "Does a little bit of everything, on brand."
Rick Steigler serves as a veteran employee presence.
He has worked at Reasons To Be Cheerful from the beginning in 2010
and seems born to be
involved with ice cream -- he, after all, hails from Hershey, Penn. Rick worked as a highly successful digital printing
and customer wall coverings expert in a previous career, but found his
niche making really tasty ice cream while being able to work myriad other
aspects of the operation.
In reference to Steigler's mission control-type efficiency, his
business card states, "Person who gets things done." He has also attended
the gold standard Penn State University ice cream course. Rick flat out
knows his job responsbilities!
"Rick has been around forever," said Tyler with a deep respect for his
co-worker.
New Owner Philip Rosenfield Fulfills a Business Dream
Philip Rosenfield has owned Reasons to Be Cheerful for a few
years, taking over from the original owners Jill
Block
and Wade Rubenstein. Rosenfield once owned J.N.
Phillips, a well-known auto glass company. He always wanted to
own an ice cream shop. One
day, Rosenfield left a note on the counter at Reasons To Be Cheerful,
stating his desire to become involved
with the business. Rosenfield did just that when Block
and Rubenstein sold the business to him. He has
elevated an
already good business to great.
"People love the quality of the ice cream," said Tyler. "We're indoors
with no bugs that you would get at an ice cream stand.
We are essentially a neighborhood place and we give a lot back to the
community."
Of Ice Cream, Happiness and Sense Of Community
Strawberry chip ice cream from Reasons To Be Cheerful.
Massachusetts residents certainly have their choice of ice
cream destinations. Some "Best of" ice cream spots written about
extensively locally and nationally feature attractions beside ice cream
like mini
golf, bumper boats and petting zoos Most ice cream spots don't
even make their own ice cream on the premises, but still get the
crowds. Let's face it: When ice cream is great, it's simply
mouthwatering and when it's bad... well, it's still pretty
good. America loves its ice cream and the Bay State is no exception.
Red Velvet Cake ice cream from Reasons To Be Cheerful. Photo
source: Reasons To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
The thing is, some people don't like the long lines, the
presence of a business outside a real neighborhood, and the sad reality
that many of these places are seasonal. It's like becoming a best
friend with someone and then suddenly, they don't want to see you for
most of the year.
Reasons To Be Cheerful stays open all year. They do have crowds --
especially during peak season -- but it never seems overwhelming.
That's the beauty of a small business that never got too big for its
own good and staying within a lane meant for the enjoyment of locals
and
visitors. You can see that spirit in every one of Tyler and
Rick's steps as good stewards and representatives of the neighborhood
ice cream parlor. All employees
here seem engaged and interactive with
the public -- never too rushed to just go through the motions.
Crucially, Reasons To Be Cheerful makes its owns ice cream. While
they don't use the maximum butterfat content, the staff knows what to
do
with the ingredients for maximum, memorable tastes.
Meghanne Cole makes the ice cream downstairs at Reasons To Be
Cheerful.
When ice cream is made with love and creativity in the right combinations from good
sourcing practices by people that know the industry, the possibilities
are endless for fabulous ice cream. Reasons To Be Cheerful is that kind
of place and always
features at least 28 flavors with specials available every day to
complement the current menu.
The ever changing ice cream menu at Reasons To Be Cheerful.
Innovation has always been mixed into the ice
cream base. The Creamsicle infuses sweet cream into orange.
Guinness Ice Cream, made on St. Patrick's Day, includes Guinness ale,
oatmeal, pralines and Irish cream. The Dorito's ice cream was made in
memory of Rosenfield's son, who loved the snack. On April Fool's Day,
Reasons To Be Cheerful held a contest in hopes of customers guessing
the flavors, which turned out to be pickles, taco and black cotton
candy. Chocolate birthday cake ice cream accurately takes the dense
flavor of the cake and translates it well into the frozen treat.
Guinness ice cream. Photo source: Reasons To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
"We are producing all kinds of flavors," said Rick, also noting they
turn out up to a ton of ice cream a week during peak season.
Chocolate birthday cake ice cream from Reasons To Be Cheerful.
Photo source: Reasons To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
Some of the most popular flavors: caramel
pretzel,
cookies
& cream, black raspberry, Belgian chocolate, vanilla, strawberry
and
lemon sorbet.
Additionally, Reasons To Be Cheerful features a long row of mix-in
selections for
those who love a little variety in their ice cream cones, cups or
sundaes.
Add-on and mix-ins.
What's more, Reasons To Be Cheerful features a special mixing machine
that can turn any hard serve ice cream into soft serve called swirl freeze!
"It's this big industrial blender," said Rick. "It can turn any ice
cream we have into soft serve."
Rick Steigler converts hard serve ice cream into soft serve
through a special blending machine.
One of the rising stars at Reasons To Be Cheerful: ice cream cakes. The
whole cakes are made from scratch in the kitchen including two layers
of
homemade ice cream bound together with fudge and other goodies, then
frosted with real chocolate and buttercream. Cake maker Rachel
Coppersmith
puts the finishing touches on each cake with unique toppings.
"She is like the 'Cake Boss' of Reasons To Be Cheerful," said Tyler.
"Very talented."
Ice cream cake from Reasons To Be Cheerful. Photo
source: Reasons To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
"I don't think anyone in New England does this kind of quality," said
Rick, of the ice cream cakes. "There's no Cool Whip. We do buttercream.
A lot of effort goes into them."
While many bring the ice cream cakes back for celebrations and events,
some just can't resist to eat these forms of tasty art right at Reasons
To Be Cheerful...
Enjoying ice cream cake on the front porch at Reasons To Be
Cheerful. Photo source: Reasons
To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
In addition to ice cream and frozen cakes,
Reasons To Be Cheerful also offers hot drinks including Cappucino, chai
latte, coffee, espresso, hot chocolate, latte, mocha and tea. Iced
drinks are quite popular on hot days: affogatto (an Italian coffee-based dessert), egg cream, extra thick
frappes, frappes, ice cream soda, iced chai latte, iced coffee, iced
mocha, iced tea, malted frappes, raspberry lime rickey and smoothies.
A nice cup of hot chocolate. Photo
source: Reasons To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
Chocolate chip cookies come fresh out of the oven as
a perfect complement to the ice cream or a drink...
Homemade chocolate chip cookies. Photo
source: Reasons To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
Reasons To Be Cheerful also offers another reason to be
cheerful: The Chillwagon, a truck that delivers the homemade ice
cream to events and celebrations like graduations, carnivals, camps,
birthdays, office parties, weddings, field days, pep rallies, grand
openings, promotional events, barbecues and bar and bat mitzvahs. They
also do traditional catering, taking care of everything from start to
finish for pickup or delivery.
The sense of
community fostered at Reasons To Be Cheerful stands as another joyful
element to this caring, thoughtful small business. The walls in the
back
room that encourage curiosity, creativity, community and
culture are filled with revolving local school projects.
Community room at Reasons To Be Cheerful.
Local students not only come for the ice cream, but sometimes
assistance such as a local Girl Scout Troop who helped make, to
no surprise, mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Local Girl Scouts group at Reasons To Be Cheerful. Photo source:
Reasons To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
Reasons to Be Cheerful, at this writing, sponsors nearly 50 local
organizations including Acton Barn Cooperative Nursery School, Camp
Erin, the Concord Carlisle High School Boys Hockey Team, Concord
Chamber Music, Concord Free Public Library, Dermatology Associates of
Concord, Hanscom Air Force Base Spouses Club, Lowell Summer Music
Series, and the West Concord Union Church.
"We are not a giant company, but have big hearts and are happy to
support the local communities," said Tyler.
Wall art at Reasons To Be Cheerful.
Reasons To Be Cheerful also features conversation
pieces like
the big plastic cow. Apparently, Wayfair had just what Reasons To Be
Cheerful needed as they bought this cow from the online furniture giant.
Decorative cow at Reasons To Be Cheerful.
Conclusion: A Perfect Fit for West Concord, Perfect Place For
Locals
Peppermint stick ice cream from Reasons To Be Cheerful. Photo
source: Reasons To Be Cheerful Facebook Fan Page.
Reasons To Be Cheerful was meant to be in West Concord. This
friendly section of Concord has a nearly idyllic, serviceable downtown
with an old fashioned five and dime, health food store, seafood market,
bread shop and bakery, gift and furniture stores, upscale and comfort
food restaurants and antiques. It all comes together beautifully with
Reasons To Be Cheerful representing the quintessential neighborhood ice
cream shop. There aren't too many of these town center ice cream spots
left in the Boston area, so it's a revelation to see Reasons To Be
Cheerful filling a need that never should have gone away or succumbed
to the chains. The neighborhood knows this to be true as well as the
travelers, local employees as the overall experience at Reasons To Be
Cheerful comes across as sweet and memorable as the ice cream. Soon,
Hudson, Mass., will be the next beneficiary as
Reasons To Be Cheerful plans to open there soon.
"This is super-premium ice cream that's done all by hand," said Rick.
"People love it and always come in with a smile. It's a good place to
be."
And that's the whole story of why we give Reasons To Be Cheerful six stars out of a possible five!
Reasons To Be Cheerful is located at 100 Commonwealth Ave., West Concord, MA. Tel.
(978) 610-6248.
Log onto the Reasons To Be
Cheerful, Facebook
Fan Page, Twitter
feed and Instagram page
for
more information.
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