Scoups ice cream and soup bar to open in McFadden Plaza in downtown Carson City

A new store is coming soon to downtown’s McFadden Plaza.

Scoups, a family owned ice cream parlor and soup bar, plans to open its doors early next year.

The eatery will be operated by Carson City residents Kimberly Landry and her husband Geoff, with the help of their three daughters and daughter-in-law.

The family plans to offer a choice of three homemade soups daily, such as clam chowder, tomato bisque and chicken noodle, sold in 12-ounce containers with soup toppings and salad.

The soup will be sold year-round as will a selection of ice cream.

“They’re comfort foods,” said Kimberly Landry. “I want it to be a happy place.”

The 1,060 square-foot shop next door to Mom & Pop’s Diner will have seating for 15 and a stand-up bar. It also will offer quick take out, which customers will be able to order and pay for online.

The space will soon be remodeled by landlord and contractor Mark Lopiccolo and Landry said they hope to open in late January or early February.

“My vision is a classic country, clean, cheerful place, with wainscoting and a wood tile floor,” said Landry.

Landry, who is leaving work in dental practice management on Dec. 30, and her husband, Geoff, have talked for years about starting up some kind of business that could involve their whole family.

“We kept coming back to ice cream parlor,” Landry said. “That would be fun and we could all enjoy it.”

Landry thought she’d been beaten to it when she attended the McFadden Plaza opening day celebration in July and saw a cart there, in front of the store space, selling ice cream.

“I told my husband, ‘Well, somebody else is going to do it. We missed the moment,’” said Landry.

But she found out the cart was only there for opening day festivities so she called the phone number listed on the storefront.

She spoke to Jenny Lopiccolo, who said the landlords wanted to see an ice cream shop go in the space and would open one themselves if no one else did.

“Moments come and you either snag them or lose them,” Landry said.

And as Landry hoped, Scoups is a family affair.

Daughter Michelle is doing all the graphics for the store, including the sign above the door, and will help operate it.

Daughter Marisa, who has a full-time job, will be helping, too, and daughter-in-law Gabi will be do the baking.

Oldest daughter Megan, who lives in California, is working on the web site and marketing.

Landry isn’t certain what the store’s hours will be or the date it will open, but check online at scoupsbar.com in the new year to find out.