LE MARS, Iowa -- Visitors have had little trouble finding the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor, despite its move last year from a busy highway intersection to the downtown business district in Le Mars.
"The downtown location is certainly a big winner," said Dave Smetter, senior director of corporate marketing and communications for Wells Enterprises, maker of the Blue Bunny brand of ice cream and frozen novelties. "We've seen higher traffic numbers than we saw at the old parlor. People are coming back and they're finding it with no problem."
The 1920s-style parlor debuted June 17 in a historic downtown building at 115 Central Ave. N.W. Wells acquired and extensively renovated. Found throughout the two levels are interactive displays, artifacts and memorabilia that tell Blue Bunny's story.
The building boasts nearly 12,000 square feet of space, up from 8,500 square feet combined for the previous ice cream parlor and adjacent museum and visitors center that had had operated in a commercial center at the intersection of Highways 3 and 75 since 1999.
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For more than a decade, the old-fashioned parlor has attracted thousands of visitors from around the world. It's also been a favorite stop for politicans stumping for votes in the region.
With the added space, the parlor has doubled its ice cream selection to more than 35 flavors. The choices include some Blue Bunny flavors not usually found in retail stores, including Huckelberry, Vanilla Storm and White Chocolate Caramel Cluster.
Workers dish out cones and dishes of ice cream behind a marble bar that was once used in the historic M&M Bakery & Café in O'Neill, Neb. Another old-fashioned counter, brought over from the previous Blue Bunny parlor, is used to serve malts, shakes, floats, sundaes and old-fashioned ice cream sodas.
The main floor seats up to 100 people, and about 30 more on the second level, which is furnished with leather couch and seats and an 82-inch flat screen TV.
A second-floor party room, which can be booked for various special events, holds up to 130 people. Wells officials also plan to host corporate visitors in the room, which includes a full kitchen where a company chef can prepare special ice cream desserts.
An open grand staircase allows guests on the second floor to look down at the lower level.
Next to the staircase entrance on the first-floor is a gift shop that sells various Blue Bunny-themed merchandise.
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Small touch-screen panels in all the booths and standalone kiosks around the room allow guests to watch videos about ice cream production and the history of Wells, a fourth-generation family business founded in 1913 in Le Mars.
Displayed on the second floor are historic Wells and Blue Bunny photos and various artifacts. In one display case is a contract company founder Harry C. Wells signed on Oct. 24, 1913, when he purchased horse, wagon and milk route from a local farmer.
The 1875 building that houses the parlor is itself full of history. The brick structure, built by George E. Pew, was one of the oldest businesses not only in Le Mars, but also the state of Iowa. Pew originally sold hardware and farm equipment originally, and later automobiles. The business closed in the 1960s, and had been most recently been used for storage before Wells purchased it.
The iconic sundae sculpture from the first Blue Bunny Parlor is positioned in front of the building. There also is outdoor seating, where visitors can enjoyed their ice cream treats on a warm sunny.
