Owner opens 3 weeks after coming up with business idea
HELPER—About a month ago, Levi Ferguson was musing about a sweet idea stuck in his head—Helper could use an ice cream shop. A few weeks later, with the help of his family, he opened one.
Udderly Ice Cream held a soft opening of sorts during First Friday festivities last week. The new business occupies the first floor of the old Helper Emporium building on Main Street.
A Carbon High grad, Ferguson grew up in East Carbon. After his education he headed to California, where he worked a variety of food service jobs.
His oldest son, Patrick, who still lives in California, came up with the business’ name. He was also home when the original idea burst forth.
“My son in California came down and we all walked downtown. We peeked in the window and we were like, ‘Helper needs ice cream, that would be so cool to open up an ice cream shop,’” Ferguson said.
The Emporium building used to contain an old-fashioned pharmacy, complete with soda fountain and ice cream bar.
When the idea hit him, Ferguson said he made contact with Helper City Councilwoman Malarie Matsuda, who in turn hooked Ferguson up with the building’s owner, Dixie Marvidikis.
“Ever since then we’ve been in here cleaning up and getting ready. We laid floor, we painted, we’ve just been working constantly in here,” Ferguson said.
Udderly Ice Cream is keeping it basic for now, offering a variety of Leatherby’s Family Creamery brand flavors in cups and cones. By the upcoming arts festival, Ferguson hopes to get his signage up. Eventually the business will offer all sorts of treats, including shakes and malts, vegan ice cream and sorbet, and more.
By winter, Ferguson hopes to offer more seasonal fare, such as homemade soups and paninis.
Ferguson is not doing this alone, wife Candice—a Helper native—and kids Ashton, 13, and Maddison, 11, are serving customers and manning the counter.
Ferguson hopes to keep the shop running seven days a week from about 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. or later most days, closing in the afternoon on Sundays.
When he’s not satisfying sweet tooths, Ferguson says he works at the Hunter power plant.
A grand opening for Udderly Ice Cream has not yet been scheduled, but is in the works.