Ice Cream Shop Embodies Small In Size - Big In Flavor Character

Nestled within historic downtown Scranton Alley is a closet-sized ice cream shop popular for its unique scoop on local taste.

Best Wishes has been serving up ice cream and a variety of homemade treats seven days a week since 2007. Co-owner Sandy Henderson said, “When you get my ice cream, you won’t want any other. We aren’t a big franchise. We hand make all of our own ice cream and use real ingredients instead of flavoring. We use real pumpkin in our pumpkin ice cream and real lime. You can taste the difference.”

Employing a handful of part-timers, Henderson and Shellie Norden are small enough to quickly adapt to offer unique flavors based on customers preferences.

“Right now our biggest seller is Scranton Alley Mud. It’s cookies and cream and cookie dough batter mixed together,” explained Henderson.

The newest addition is the Scouts Flurry, consisting of one-half Blue Moon and one-half Yellow Banana Taffy ice cream. The coloring matches .

“I don’t know any other high school that has an ice cream named after it,” said Henderson.

In the near future, her palette of flavors will include wine ice cream. “I did a wine-tasting ice cream before for a restaurant and I am looking forward to getting it to Lake Bluff,” said Henderson.

Serving up creamy sweetness is not new for Henderson and Norden. Before opening their shop in Lake Bluff, they learned how to make quality ice cream when they bought Joe Flurry’s shop in Gurnee in 2000.

In 2007, they made the decision to downsize from a 4,000-square-foot store. While at a local health clinic, an employee approached them with the idea of opening up a shop in Lake Bluff.

"The employee thought we would be perfect for the Scranton Alley," said Henderson.

The shop was originally a storage closet. However, once they decided to move forward with Best Wishes Ice Cream Shop, things advanced quickly.

“Within just a couple hours they had me set up to make our homemade ice cream in the basement,” said Henderson.

Henderson, a Waukegan native, was a manager at Cardinal Health for more than 20 years before transitioning into the ice cream business. Norden, originally from upstate Michigan, works for Motorola.

“We have a good partnership,” said Henderson. “I run the store and she makes the ice cream."

Best Wishes remains open throughout the year, offering homemade candy gift items, caramel apples and ice cream pies. Hours change with the seasons. A short bicycle ride or walk to the Lake Bluff Scranton Alley and sounds of swing and old time rock ’n’ roll alert customers that Best Wishes is open for business.

Hours are 2 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.