Luna Creamery & Sweets nears opening Labor Day weekend
A proudly discount ice cream shop based in family connection, community, and nostalgia will open soon in Cape Coral.
Luna Creamery & Sweets is set for a soft opening Labor Day weekend, where patrons can venture in to find affordable ice cream selections, classic candy, and more.
Owned by Ali Roberts and Ken Jackson, the couple said they wanted to create a kind of old-fashioned neighborhood ice cream shop that feels welcoming to everyone. Roberts said with the cost of just about everything going up, even taking the family out for ice cream can become expensive.
“We really wanted Luna to be different — a place where families can come in, enjoy a great ice cream or a sweet treat together, and not feel like a simple outing has to break the bank,” she said. “Keeping our prices affordable was one of the most important parts of our vision from the very beginning.”
Located along Del Prado Boulevard, Roberts and Jackson found an opportunity to take over an old gelato shop that never quite got off the ground. Jackson, having just retired, was looking for something enjoyable to take up his free time.
“We wanted to do something fun,” Roberts said. “It was an opportunity. You know, everybody loves ice cream.”
Roberts and Jackson said something they’ve often heard from family and friends is how taking a family outing to the local ice cream shop has become more than what it used to be for wallets and pocketbooks.
With a background in operating dollar stores, discount shopping is in Jackson’s wheelhouse.
“Everything in our economy and world has gone up — some to just such extremes that it’s making it very hard for people to do anything,” Roberts said, “But we didn’t want to take away from family traditions and family time. That’s important to both of us. So, we want to give back to the community by giving people a place to go and really have fun, have good energy, be affordable and bring people together. Come make memories with your families, with your kids. That’s why Luna was created.”
The name Luna is an ode to Roberts’ father, who passed away in 2009 and had a fixation with the moon.
“We always grew up looking at the moon and always feeling like that light guided us,” Roberts said. “My family still always looks at it and we talk about how beautiful the nights are. For me personally, the moon became almost a spiritual guide for me over many years.
“I thought there was no better way to start a new business in honor of him.”
At Luna, there will be more than 20 flavors from which to choose, along with soft serve offerings. Patrons can indulge via a cup, or cone (waffle, cake, sugar), or even a waffle chip and dip.
Luna will also carry fudge, candy, popcorn, and even toys for kids at discounted pricing.
Roberts said the shop can offer a three-scoop ice cream for under $5, and a large, four-scoop for under $6.
For the first 45 days, Luna will be operating under a “soft opening,” where there will be a flat price of $3 for a medium ice cream. A grand opening is being looked at around November.
Roberts added she and Jackson want Luna to become an integral part of the community — to be a place where the local Little League team can come after a game, or a birthday party spot for local kids.
“We want to give back,” she said. “We want to offer programs for first responders and nurses and teachers. We want to sponsor local programs and bring everybody together.”
Bringing that old school mom-and-pop style of ice cream parlor is at the heart of Luna.
“One of the things we did with the decor is we took our kids and our families — we have a whole wall of black and white photos that we did vintage wise — where we pulled pictures of our kids when they were young, having ice cream,” Roberts said, adding there are also pictures of her father and Jackson’s parents.
As the shop continues to operate, there are plans for weekly events such as trivia or karaoke.
Luna Creamery & Sweets is at 1127 Del Prado Blvd., S., Cape Coral.