(Aug. 3, 2017) Last month, DeNovo’s owners Bob and Kelli Beck got word the building next to their restaurant on 11310 Manklin Creek Road in Ocean Pines was available.
This week, that space, a former Rita’s Italian Ice, is expected to reopen as DeNovo’s Ice Cream Bar.
“That location has been there since the building was built in 2009 and it’s completely outfitted for ice cream,” Kelli said. “It’s always been ice cream.”
She said the landlord approached them in the beginning of June and a deal was made almost immediately – at the expense of a family vacation.
“The kids were getting out of school, so we already had a family getaway planned,” Bob said. “We had to backburner it, get through the Fourth of July, and, between that, there was a deadline [with the landlord]. He approached a few people he thought might be interested.”
“If we didn’t [run it], somebody else would,” Kelli said. “We figured it was a great location and a complement to us right next door, so we went for it.”
With the pair working fast, the interior space was cleaned up and a courtyard with picnic tables, umbrellas and strands of lights was built between the two buildings.
“All that’s left is county approval and we’re going to be up and running, hopefully this week,” Kelli said. “It’s been very quick, but we’re excited for it. It sounds like the community is really looking for something like this, so we’re hoping it will be a success.”
Kelli joked the couple knew practically nothing about ice cream when they signed the lease, other than they enjoyed eating it.
“I think our track record shows that we know how to run a good business,” she said. “When we started [DeNovo’s] 13 years ago, we listened to the community and what they were looking for, and that’s what we’re doing again.”
“We know it’s going to be a lot of figuring it out as we go,” Bob added.
Like Rita’s, the new shop will serve water ice, soft serve and hand-dipped scoops, with about a dozen flavors to start.
“We love feedback from the community. That’s what we’re built on. Depending on what people are interested in, we’ll kind of bend and flex and reshape and mold ourselves as we go,” Kelli said.
“It’s all new, obviously. The beginning of June is not very long ago,” she added. “We’re definitely excited to see what it brings. We will be open through the fall, and it’s going to be what the community is looking for. If they’re looking for weekends, we’ll be open for weekends.”
This week, that space, a former Rita’s Italian Ice, is expected to reopen as DeNovo’s Ice Cream Bar.
“That location has been there since the building was built in 2009 and it’s completely outfitted for ice cream,” Kelli said. “It’s always been ice cream.”
She said the landlord approached them in the beginning of June and a deal was made almost immediately – at the expense of a family vacation.
“The kids were getting out of school, so we already had a family getaway planned,” Bob said. “We had to backburner it, get through the Fourth of July, and, between that, there was a deadline [with the landlord]. He approached a few people he thought might be interested.”
“If we didn’t [run it], somebody else would,” Kelli said. “We figured it was a great location and a complement to us right next door, so we went for it.”
With the pair working fast, the interior space was cleaned up and a courtyard with picnic tables, umbrellas and strands of lights was built between the two buildings.
“All that’s left is county approval and we’re going to be up and running, hopefully this week,” Kelli said. “It’s been very quick, but we’re excited for it. It sounds like the community is really looking for something like this, so we’re hoping it will be a success.”
Kelli joked the couple knew practically nothing about ice cream when they signed the lease, other than they enjoyed eating it.
“I think our track record shows that we know how to run a good business,” she said. “When we started [DeNovo’s] 13 years ago, we listened to the community and what they were looking for, and that’s what we’re doing again.”
“We know it’s going to be a lot of figuring it out as we go,” Bob added.
Like Rita’s, the new shop will serve water ice, soft serve and hand-dipped scoops, with about a dozen flavors to start.
“We love feedback from the community. That’s what we’re built on. Depending on what people are interested in, we’ll kind of bend and flex and reshape and mold ourselves as we go,” Kelli said.
“It’s all new, obviously. The beginning of June is not very long ago,” she added. “We’re definitely excited to see what it brings. We will be open through the fall, and it’s going to be what the community is looking for. If they’re looking for weekends, we’ll be open for weekends.”