Happy 1st birthday to Stage Door Sweet Shoppe in Momence
I drove out to Momence on Aug. 4 to chase a tip about a good ice cream parlor. By sheer coincidence (or maybe my cosmic connection to all things edible?), I happened to find them on their one-year anniversary and they were giving out free cones. Talk about having a lucky day!
Stage Door Sweet Shoppe is at 110 E. Washington in Momence. Ice cream is their primary commodity (Ashby’s Ice Cream, to be exact), and they offer 24 flavors on any given day, with seasonal flavors regularly rotating through the mix.
“It’s the best ice cream in the world,” said one loyal patron I talked to. I only tried one flavor, Amaretto Cherry, but I can confirm it was very, very good.
If an ice cream headache is your idea of a good time, may I recommend the Momence Mountain — seven scoops of ice cream surrounded by brownies, smothered in chocolate and caramel sauce, and topped with a marshmallow, whipped cream and a sparkler. No one has yet been able to eat all of it solo, but photos of those who have found friends and family to help can be seen on the store’s wall of fame. (The wall of shame is reserved for anyone who might manage to consume all those calories by him or herself.)
For smaller appetites, there’s also the Redskin Pile Up (five scoops and all the toppings) and the Kiddy Pile Up (three scoops and all the toppings).
In addition to cones, sundaes, malts and shakes, Stage Door sells nuts, candies (including licorice imported from Australia), and imported coffee and tea. Also, the handiwork of area artists appear throughout the store and are available for purchase.
Stage Door owner Mark Noller oversaw all the restorations that were necessary to turn the ground floor of the 138-year-old building into an ice cream parlor. It was a lengthy and costly process and included a battle with the former mayor and city council over enforcement of a modern building code that Noller argued should not apply to a historic building. Noller prevailed, and finally, on Aug. 4, 2008, he saw his vision for a family-friendly hangout in the downtown area come to fruition.
Today, patrons can enjoy movies on Wednesday nights and open mic night on Friday nights. For groups needing their own space, Stage Door also offers a private dining room for luncheons.
Stage Door is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Call ahead to order pints or quarts. Their phone is (815) 472-4280.
