Zip A Dee Doo Dah

After 20 years of dreaming, 9 months of planning, and 5 months of building, we are open!  I feel like singing.

Zip A Dee Doo Dah
Zip A Dee Eh
My, on my!
What a wonderful day!
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way!
Zip A Dee Doo Dah
Zip A Dee Eh
-    lyrics by  Ray Gilbert

Now for my Oscar speech.

All I can say is, it takes a village.  Thank you West Concord Village.  I look forward to serving you.  Thank you scoopers for your team work and sense of adventure.  Thank you Rick for your dedication, attention to detail, and calm presence in a sea of chaos.  Thank you Cally for your organizational skills, warm smile, and boundless energy.    Thank you Rachel for the icing on the cake.  Thank you David for Karma Coffee and my first $1.  It’s so good.  It’s all good.  Thank you Tom Raposa of Bliss Bros. Dairy for your encylopedic knowledge of all things ice cream.  Thank you Nick Pappas of Lizzy’s Homemade Ice Cream for sharing your experiences and opening up your wonderful ice cream shop.  Thank you Andy and Ken of Boston Showcase for fitting a big box in a small hole.  Thank you Rick Cantrill of Allied Cash Register for helping me keep track of my business.  Thank you Malcolm of Ice Cream University for your passion, formulas, and cell phone number.  Thank you Chris of the West Concord Five and Ten for suggesting the Gatehouse, spreading the news, and checking in.  Thank you Maynard and Jean for your faith and wisdom.   Thank you Henry Dane of Dane, Brady, and Haydon, LLP for steering me clear of the falls.  Thank you Mary Klinoff of Firefly for your je ne sais quoi.  Thank you Libby for your good cheer and double entry bookkeeping.  Thank you Paul and Leslie for your store design and “no problems” philosophy.  Thank you Colin Hamell and crew for an outstanding job.  Thank you Gabrielle for your guiding hand and watchful eye.  Thank you Vince for not trying to talk me out of this venture.  Thank you Desh for your entrepreneurship.  Thank you Phil for a wonderful and wacky mind.  Thank you Kenster for feeling groovy.  Thank you Robert Levers of Levers Advertising and Design for my new identity.  May it grow.  Thank you Edgar Stewart of Edgar Stewart Design & Illustration for the playful store graphics.  Thank you Gretchen Hollworth of Wright Designs for your steady hand on the menu boards.  Thank you Billy Crosby of Crosby Design for the shining beacon on Commonwealth Ave.  Thank you David A.F. for helping me be true to myself.  Thank you Ian Dury and the Blockheads for Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3.  (Are my two minutes up?)  Thank you friends and neighbors for your support and faith.  Thank you Mom for your love of all things ice cream.  Thank you Dad for that first taste of Toscanini’s.  Thank you Lucy for your daily walks.  Finally, thank you Max, Ellie and Jill for your love and patience.

It’s only just begun.  See you in the cafe.