The inside scoop: Rochester ice cream shop named best in the state
Flapdoodles is putting a cherry on top of its already strong start to summer.
The Rochester business — with two locations in town — was recently listed in national publications as the best ice cream shop in Minnesota.
The magazines, Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure, both gave ink to the rankings, which were churned out using reviews from Yelp. One parlor for every state made the list based on their reviews and star ratings.
Already a draw for kids and adults alike, Flapoodles has been making waves this summer with its new ice cream truck. You can find the retro-looking vehicle making the rounds through Rochester this summer. Recently, it has been posting up downtown during the weekdays near Central Park.
Daube’s opens third location
Speaking of excuses to treat your sweet tooth: Daube’s, the popular local bakery, recently opened its third location in Rochester.
This one, at 1600 South Broadway, just south of the fairgrounds, includes a partnership with another locally-owned business, Lumen Coffee. You may know Lumen for their drive-thru shop at 3550 55th Street Northwest.
They say it took nine months to fire up the new location. Daube’s has two other spots: along Civic Center Drive and in the downtown subway system.
“D3,” as the owners are calling it, will be open seven days a week.
Things brewing on Peace Plaza
Moka is making progress on its new location in Peace Plaza.
We are told the coffee shop is just weeks away from opening. The business, which up until this point only built drive-thru shops, will feature café-style seating and an outdoor patio within steps of the Peace fountain.
“It is a different location for us. It’s going to be a walk-in café only,” said Julie Hatlem, marketing manager for Moka, during last month’s meeting of the Destination Medical Center Corporation Board.
In addition to its standard lineup of coffee and tea products, the new Moka will also offer a selection of beer and wine.
The shop will be located near another new business, Jerk King, which opened in late May. This is Jerk King’s first restaurant outside of Canada.
Parking becomes patio seating
Finally, an update to a story that caused some hubbub earlier this spring.
Strolling through downtown the other day, I noticed the street café — built over three parking spaces — is now functional along Historic Third.
The patio, which was constructed using wood from emerald ash borer trees, serves as an extension of Grand Rounds Brewing Company’s outdoor patio.
Grand Rounds has rights to the property for the next 12 months, during which time the city plans to collect feedback on how it is used. Despite being privately-managed, the business has said it will work with other groups, including artists and nearby businesses, to program the space.
Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.
