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Business & Tech

Business Profile: Beaches & Cream

With Mini Surfboards And A Beach Shack Makeover, This Parlor Has Both The Look And The Flavor Of Summer

Patch interviewed ice cream man Tom Smith, the friendly and outgoing owner of Beaches & Cream (who you'll also see serving at the window). This quaint little place, which opened only a year ago, serves flavored soft serve, hard ice cream, smoothies and shakes. There's outdoor seating on colorful picnic tables, and pooches are welcome. 

How long have you lived in Clinton: I've lived in Clinton now for two years. (I was told the winters are more mild here :) Can't prove it by last year!)

How long has Beaches & Cream been in business: Last week in July last year.

How did Beaches & Cream get its name: Beaches n Cream was named by the kids of the owner of the property ... it's also such a perfect name as we're so close to the beach ... and it's a fun play on the singing duo from years ago.

History of the business: We don't have a lot of history yet.

What makes Beaches & Cream unique:  We have gluten free cones and ice cream based on coconut not milk for people with dairy allergies.

What is the most popular menu item: Well our soft serve is a real ice cream so I'd have to say it's become very popular ... people love our rainbow ... I made up the name for it ... it's a combination from our flavors ... moogoo cotton candy (blue), tropical orange (orange), strawberry (red), and banana (yellow). Some throw mango in so it's a swirl of fun colors!

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We now have hard ice cream and the most popular flavor is moose tracks ... it's vanilla ice cream with slivers and chunks of chocolate. Then it is followed closely by maple walnut and camp coffee.

What is your favorite item on the menu: My favorite item on the menu is our dairy free ice creams ... mango!

What do you like best about town: Clinton still retains its feel of a beach town ... I call it CoHo after Noho Norwalk in Connecticut or SoHo of course in NYC ... I believe from the many customers who have relocated here from outside feel the same way -- that Clinton offers them a great place to raise their kids in a beach town.

What do you least like about town: Their lack of enthusiasm for new businesses.

Fondest memory of town: My fondest memory of Clinton was the old outdoor movie theater ... I saw my first movie there a gazillion years ago ... 101 Dalmatians.

Any personal thoughts you'd like to share: Clinton has the opportunity to remain a nice shoreline town but is in danger of allowing itself to become too commercialized ... I grew up in Meriden where we have the same problem with our downtown ... some things should just be left alone. They are what they are. Investing money to beautify the downtown and maybe have a policeman or two direct traffic instead of the traffic lights would go far in helping with the traffic, and a few more stores downtown like a gallery would help. Also make it more walking friendly, find a large lot for parking and maybe have a trolley-style bus to transfer walkers to their car or different places like the marina to downtown. Expand the downtown towards Hammonasset, creating a small enclave of shops - tee shirts, gallery, coffee shop, marine supply ...

Beaches & Cream | 228 East Main Street 

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