State Senator Joseph Addabbo was on hand to offer well wishes to the owners of Scoops. The senator was also spotted behind the counter –witnesses say he was carrying a spoon and wearing a smile. In addition to frozen yogurt and ice cream, the shop also sells coffee, cupcakes and crepes Pictured from left to right: Mark Foche, the shop manager; Addabbo; Debra Iqbal and Benny Patti, co-owners of the shop; and servers Melissa Chung-A-Hing and Danielle Mauro. Forum Newsgroup Photo By Luis Gronda.
Ozone Park is a happy town as of Saturday morning when the long awaited grand opening of Scoops on Cross Bay Boulevard in Ozone Park drew hundreds of customers. Eager and hungry crowds lined up for their first taste long past the opening festivities and into the night until closing.
Owner Frank Iqbal is not new to this particular stretch of Cross Bay—he bought the Dairy Mill next door seven years ago, and two years ago he opened what he claims is “the cleanest Laundromat in Queens.” “I make sure of that,” Iqbal says with a big smile.
And as far as smiles are concerned, he and partner Bernard Patti are all smiles over their new venture which they say has really been welcomed into the community in just a few short days. “We hired 16 people all from this area,” said Iqbal, “and we plan to hire more local people as we move on.”
Now that Scoops is up and running, Iqbal will focus on his next project which could employ up to 100 locals. He plans on expanding Dairy Mill, on the adjacent property, into a full supermarket with meat and fish departments.
“We are here more than we are home,” says Iqbal of himself and wife Debra. “These people are not customers, they are like our family. We go to their parties and to their funerals.” The businessman is quick to credit most of the success at Dairy Mill to the hard work of wife Debra, who puts in at least 12 hours a day between the two stores.
Hard work was rewarded as business was booming, according to the owners, with customers continuing to pour in to “scoop” up their favorite treats including frozen yogurt and ice cream, a full line of gelato and sorbet, crepes and cupcakes. For those able to control their sweet tooth there is a complete salad bar with too many toppings to count.
Scoops is located at 137-20 Cross Bay Blvd. in Ozone Park and will be open from 10 a.m. until midnight seven days a week.
