Scream for ice cream silenced at Bruster's (update)

Bruster’s has scooped its last ice cream cone in Destin.

The franchise has been a hot spot for the cool treat in Destin for the past six years. In fact, at one time there were two locations: one across from Harbor Docks that was closed after a year in business and the now-shuttered shop on 4655 Gulfstarr Drive.

Destin’s Marty and Lisa Buchman owned the stores with a partner and said the price of dairy and other food costs quadrupled over the past four years. Pile rising taxes and insurance costs onto that, and profit margins are sure to melt.

“We just weren’t making enough to get through the winters,” Lisa said sadly.

The store had 25 employees on the payroll.

The recent closing means that almost all of the Bruster’s franchises have closed along the Emerald Coast. There are still Bruster’s Real Ice Cream shops in Panama City and Pensacola, but the other local franchise in Fort Walton Beach closed a couple years back.

The Buchmans’ story is a familiar one for small businesses as rising fuel prices and a stagnant economy drive up prices and dry up business.

“We’re not the only ones in town, that’s for sure,” Lisa said.

Shane Moody, president and CEO of the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, echoed the thoughts of many upon hearing about the closing.

“This is a surprise to me,” Moody said. “My boy’s gonna be sick ... I’m gonna be sick!”

Moody said that despite what is shaping up to be a banner tourism year, the economy is still causing smaller businesses to struggle.

“That is why, as a Chamber, we are working so hard to do off-season events and off-season promotion,” he said. “What we gotta do is create that want and desire to be here during those off-seasons.”

For the Buchmans, the closing means they must now confront the question, “What’s next?”

“I have no idea,” she said. “We’ll figure out something, because we don’t want to leave town.”

In the meantime, the memories provide bittersweet comfort for Lisa.

“I have so many fabulous memories from being able to support all the T-ball, soccer and school programs that I don’t know how I’d share any one story,” she said. “That has been the best part of the business — participating in the community and going out to help people.”