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FLORENCE: Debbie’s snack shop opens for its 20th season

The hours of the shop are every day from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. until April 16. After April 16, hours are 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. for the whole summer.

by Amy Batista, Special Writer
FLORENCE — As spring begins days become longer, temperatures become warmer and Debbie’s Snack Shop opens up for business.
   Owner Debbie Partyka, during the opening of the shop’s 20th season on March 29, acknowledged things were getting started a bit later than usual due to her recovery from recent back surgery.
   ”I was glad I opened yesterday,” said Debbie Partyka, adding the shop typically opens on St. Patrick’s Day. “I opened two weeks later to give myself two more weeks to recover.”
   Despite the late start, business looked good.
   ”We surprisingly had a steady line and flow of people from the time we opened until we closed despite the rainy weather,” Ms. Partyka said, who opened the shop on April 25, 1995.
   The store is located at 5 Broad St. in what used to be her living room.
   ”We took a chance and it just took off,” she said of the 20-year-old venture.
   The inspiration to open up the shop came after one day of dropping her daughter off at camp in the Lebanon area.
   ”We came across this ice cream store,” she said. “We stopped and got a pina colada milkshake on our way. Then a week later we go to pick her up and I had an orange creamsicle milkshake.”
   She told her husband, Jim Partyka, that it was a shame there wasn’t such a place closer to home.
   When she first started the shop, she sold soft serve ice cream and later purchased a slush machine.
   Now, the shop features more than 24 soft serve ice cream flavors, as well as more than 15 milkshake and slushy flavors.
   Last fall, with back pain limiting her ability to work, she put up the shop for sale – Saturday was the last day the shop was officially on the market.
   ”I am trying to simplify to see what I can do to still keep it open,” Ms. Partyka said.
   As a result, some changes were made to the menu with the shop offering prepackaged Italian ices instead of hand dipped Italian ices. In addition, the shop is selling an assortment of prepackaged ice cream in lieu of hard ice cream.
   ”I’m trying to accommodate them, but (at the same time) not worry about all that leaning over and scooping and lifting the big tubs,” she said, adding that for things like a Gelati she can take the lid off of an Italian ice and add the ice cream to the top.
   She has been able to find a family member to help her out on her delivery days and to run errands that require lifting for her. In addition, she has six staff members.
   As to why folks keep on coming back year after year, she attributes quality products, fair prices, good customer service and support of the community.
   That support was evident last Saturday as eager customers began to line up outside of the shop as early as 2:45 p.m., hoping to be the first person in line despite the rainy, cold weather.
   She said she feels honored that kids start lining up so early, adding that she used to have the shop open during the week, but began limiting hours to the weekend, as kids would try to cut school to be among the first in line.
   In fact, getting first in line has become something of a competition. This year’s first place winners were Gavin Mount, 11, and Scott Crals, 12, both of Florence who received a bag full of goodies, which included a Debbie’s Snack Shop hoodie sweatshirt, DSS decal, $5 gift certificate, a free product of their choice, a gift certificate for a regular cone with sprinkles and their photo displayed on the board that hangs by the window for all to see as well as being posted on its Facebook page.
   Gavin said his favorite item is the hot fudge brownie sundae.
   ”I really wanted to be the first to get ice cream because it was closed for so long,” said Gavin. “I like Debbie’s better than any other ice cream.”
   Scott said he was really excited this year since it was his first time lining up early.
   ”It felt really awesome,” said Scott, adding that his favorite item on the menu is the pina colada water ice.
   Austin Neiderman, 10, and Anthony Gallina, 10, both of of Florence, were the second place winners.
   Marion Huff, of Florence, was the third place winner and was stopping at his favorite ice cream shop before leaving for basic training for the Army in June.
   ”This is the last time I could do it,” said Mr. Huff.
   Mr. Huff said he is hoping the shop will still be here when he returns.
   ”I hope it doesn’t leave,” Mr. Huff said.
   The next 15 customers were also given a gift certificate for a free product of their choice. In addition, there were approximately 100 additional prizes being given out throughout the day.
   Ms. Partyka selects a set of numbers and as she rings on the register, if the number comes up, that person will earn chance to pick out of the bucket one of the eight varieties of prizes from a gift certificate of varies amounts, a free product of your choice, decals, or buy one get one free.
   For Ms. Partyka, the highlight of her business is the kids and customers.
   ”I really appreciate my customers, and our many talks and prayers I have with them,” Ms. Partyka said. “This is what I love about a small town.”
   Her husband compared the place to a local bar where everyone comes with their problems.
   ”A true mom and pops store,” said Mr. Partyka, adding that his wife is a people person.
   ”Everybody comes and tells her all their problems,” Mr. Partyka said.
   Ms. Partyka helps support her community through supporting local teams, donates to the local library reading club, and contributing gift certificates during fundraisers. She is also well-know for the creative floats which have a different float theme every year are seen during the Patriotic Celebration.
   The hours of the shop are every day from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. until April 16. After April 16, hours are 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. for the whole summer.