A beloved Newport ice cream parlor is moving to a new home. Sweet to the Soul is relocating to 19 North Second Street this fall, reports local media outlet Penn Live.
Loyal customers needn’t worry; Sweet to the Soul’s new location is a mere three doors down from its current home at 31 North Second Street. Owned and operated by the Fortenbaugh family, the ice cream parlor is taking over the 2,300 square foot space last occupied by Goodwill. Fortenbaugh family patriarch, Ryan Fortenbaugh, spoke to What Now Philadelphia about the impending move and Sweet to the Soul’s plans for the new shop.
“This will double our seating capacity. We get crowded, so it should free up additional space.”, states Fortenbaugh. He further explains that in the past Sweet to the Soul has had to close to the public to host private parties. A portion of the new building will be sectioned off for special event rentals, allowing the shop to continue regular daily operations during these occurrences.
The Fortenbaugh family bought the new building and are making the renovations necessary to successfully house Sweet to the Soul. Though the new owners are hoping to open by late September, Fortenbaugh explains that they are prioritizing quality over speed. “We don’t want to rush it”, he says, adding “We want to make sure everything is perfect before we open the doors.”
Sweet to the Soul’s guests can look forward to more of the quality ice cream and great service they currently enjoy at the new location. Fortenbaugh states that the company has no plan for changing the day-to-day operations. However, the new building will allow space for him and his wife to make ice cream simultaneous to his daughter making baked goods, a feat that is not currently possible.
The community-minded family first opened Sweet to the Soul in February of 2021. The shop’s home-made ice cream and fresh baked goods quickly earned it a devoted following. In addition to classic flavors like chocolate and strawberry, customers can enjoy more unique ice creams like blueberry cheesecake and banana pudding. The shop offers ice cream flights, milkshakes, floats, sundaes, and cookie sandwiches. Guests in search of baked goods can choose from muffins, cookies, pastries, donuts, and brownies.
