Clark's to Stay Open All Year

Sweet dreams really do come true: in Berkley, which normally closes for the season in December, will stay open all year.

Manager Justin Bumann of Oak Park said he still is planning the specifics of how a year-round operation will work, but he has a few ideas.

"We are going to stay open all year this year because customers want it," he said Tuesday. "But, we have to sell more things because you can't just sell ice cream when it's icy outside."

Bumann said new offerings when the weather turns colder could include coffee, hot cocoa and spiced cider.

"I've just gotta figure out how we're going to do it. We want to do it properly," he said of staying open all year. "Sales do go way down (toward the second half of October), especially on not very nice days."

Bumann said he is optimistic a farm stand that will be open this fall in the lot adjacent to Clark's will help bolster sales.

Jessica Minor of Berkley, who was outside the shop enjoying an ice cream cone in the sunshine Tuesday, said she will patronize Clark's even when the weather turns colder.

"That'd be cool," Minor said. "Ice cream is a year-round thing for me, not just summer. We'll be there."

Stay tuned to Berkley Patch for more details and winter hours when they become available.