Ice cream shop owner anticipates opening of new Austintown location
The '80s — Boom Boom Mancini was world champion, football games at South High School were a huge thing and the Shaker Woods Festival was just getting started.
Mike Thorpe showed us around the new Totally 80s Ice Ice Cream Shoppe on Raccoon Road in Austintown.
He knows there's still work to do but he already knows the reaction he's hoping to get when it opens.
'We want all the kids to come in and feel a little bit like Ric Flair and just go, 'Wooo,' when they come in, you know? Pretty exciting,' Thorpe said.
Totally 80s will have plenty of nostalgic games, including Ms. PacMan — players probably remember the yellow button to start the game, Connect Four — red versus blue, and Galaga. The games will be free for customers when the store opens.
'I mean, there's so many things out there for kids that maybe have a negative impact. Like, for a positive place for them to be able to go and maybe be part of their childhood when they look back,' Thorpe said.
Parents and grandparents will remember some of the decorations better, like Ghost Busters and Michael Jackson.
The Austintown location will also feature nostalgic candy, cotton candy and many old-time drinks.
But Totally 80s has a common denominator for all ages — it's an 'Ice Ice Cream Shoppe.'
'Ice cream makes everybody happy. I think Nick Saban said it best when he said, 'You want to make everybody happy? Sell ice cream,'' Thorpe said.
The first Totally 80s location in Salem has been open for almost a year and Thorpe found another place where he felt it could be successful as well.
He also has an ice cream truck that's ready to hit the road.
'I'm looking to do it in neighborhoods, kind of like the old-fashioned feel. We'll have some of the old-fashioned music going with it and then mix in some '80s music with it. Make sure we keep it down a little bit and sell some ice cream and enjoy the kids,' Thorpe said.
He still has some construction to do, then get an occupancy permit. He believes Totally 80s can open in Austintown by the end of the month.
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