By Michelle Key
Publisher
O Town, formerly known as O Town Ice Cream, is holding a soft opening this holiday weekend at their new location on 2nd Avenue in Opelika. Their formal grand opening event is planned for sometime in January. Hours for the 4 day event are: Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday from 1-5 p.m., and Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
One of the surprises in the new store is the display of artwork from students from Morris Avenue Intermediate School.
Back in the 70s, Municipal Park, nicknamed “Monkey Park” had live monkeys on display in a large cage. Children loved the monkeys and enjoyed watching their antics and tossing peanuts to them. The monkeys are no longer in the park, but the memories live on and parents often tell their children stories about the monkeys.
Shop owner Angela George had incorporated the “Opelika monkeys” into the artwork and mural in the original shop in downtown Opelika, and said she wanted to find a way to do the same at the new location. She decided to visit Morris Avenue Intermediate School and ask the students where they thought the monkeys went when they left Monkey Park.
“The things they came up with are amazing and they didn’t know their artwork was going to be featured at our shop,” George said.
The children were tasked with putting their ideas on paper and the artwork they created is being used to dress up the ice cream counters.
George stated they plan to visit other schools in the area and swap out the artwork approximately every 3 or 4 months.
The new O Town location is a partnership between George, her husband Chris, Craig David and Jeff Jerkins. The business will be serving the same ice cream that has been named to reflect people, places and events around Lee County such as “Chunky Monkey Park” and Big Swamp Turtle” plus they will be serving Scoops Real Italian Ice. The shop plans to start serving breakfast and lunch in January.
The shop is located at 700 2nd Ave. and will feature rocking chairs, an area where children can draw with chalk and a drive-up window for customer’s convenience. For more information regarding their hours of operation and the grand opening event, follow and like their Facebook page or call 334-737-5700.
‘Where did the monkeys go? To eat ice cream at O Town of course!’
