Mayor William Reichelt cuts the ribbon on West Side Creamy Cones, flanked by business owner Mehmet Sarikcioglu and his wife, Varena.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Lederer
WEST SPRINGFIELD — After 10 years of running an ice cream catering truck, Mehmet Sarikcioglu has opened his own shop. West Side Creamy Cones is serving soft serve, sandwiches, sundaes and more at a Union Street storefront.
“We love the support, the love from the community,” said Sarikcioglu. “Everyone’s very happy. It’s been great.”
Sarikcioglu got into ice cream through his father, also an ice cream man. For 10 years, he drove his ice cream truck to private events, but he said he always wanted a store. West Springfield residents in particular, he said, asked for one in their town. When Sarikcioglu saw the Union Street location was available, he took it.
Now, he said, his neighbors in Merrick are happy they don’t have to drive for ice cream. Before West Side Creamy Cones opened, they would have had to travel to Smokin’ Scoops on Westfield Road, Gooseberry Farms on East Gooseberry Road, or Scoops of Agawam on Springfield Street in Feeding Hills for their fix.
The difference between his ice cream and others’, Sarikcioglu said, is their “state-of-the-art” soft serve machines and the mix they use to produce it.
“The mix we’re using, from what I see, no one in the area has it,” he said. “It’s a different product. It’s a better product, in my opinion, and the customers love it.”
West Side Creamy Cones has soft serve flavors like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and pistachio. They also sell 20 different “crazy” hard ice cream flavors like moose tracks, cappuccino, and vegan chocolate peanut butter; flavors are being rotated in and out to determine which are the most popular, Sarikcioglu said.
Around 25 toppings are available, including sprinkles, Oreos, peanuts, and various dips with flavors like cherry, chocolate and birthday cake.
Besides traditional ice cream, the store also sells banana split sundaes, milkshakes, italian ices and slushies.
“What you got in a traditional ice cream parlor, whatever comes to mind we have it there,” Sarikcioglu said.
Sarikcioglu’s ultimate goal is to make people happy with his ice cream.
“I think it’s going to be good for the community,” he said. “Ice cream makes everyone happy.”
West Side Creamy Cones opened on April 14. A small ribbon cutting ceremony took place on April 18, attended by Mayor William Reichelt and representatives from the office of state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield). Kevin Chambers, representing Velis, offered Sarikcioglu a citation from the Massachusetts Senate, congratulating and wishing him luck on his new business.
Reichelt said after the ceremony that he was happy to see a new business in the Merrick neighborhood, but also that he was happy to see anything open in the tough climate for businesses right now.
“It’s good to see businesses open in West Springfield,” he said.
West Side Creamy Cones is at 751B Union St., West Springfield, the former location of Crusty Croissant Cafe. It is open from noon to 10 p.m., hours Sarikcioglu said are meant to accommodate people’s night cravings. Delivery is not available currently, but may be later on.
“I don’t want to expand too big,” he said. “I don’t want to do everything too fast. I want to take it step by step.”
Parking is available on both sides of the building and on the street.
