Business & Tech
Here's the Scoop on Changes at Bradentown Scoop
Sheri Clinard, known to just about everyone as the face of Lucky Dogs hot dog shop, is now serving up lunch and town gossip from behind the counter at this Bradenton ice cream parlor.
Bradentown Scoop has a familiar face behind the counter who's helping the Bradenton ice cream shop truly live up to its name.
Sheri Clinard is known for running Lucky Dogs, a downtown hot dog shop that also became a hub of town gossip and local conversation before it closed in April.
Now, Clinard's back and taking over the day-to-day operations at Bradentown Scoop Ice Cream Parlor, 904 Manatee Ave. E., which is introducing hot dogs, reuben sandwiches and other lunch fare to its menu along with its classic ice cream floats and sundaes.
Owner Steve Parisian said he thinks the addition of Clinard will fulfill the vision he and wife Laurie had when they opened in February 2012: To make the throwback-themed ice cream shop a place the community can come together and get the "scoop" on what's happening in town, just like back in the days of soda fountains, when Bradenton was still called "Bradentown."
"People don't just want to come in for ice cream, they want to come in and get ice cream and tell you what's going on in their life," Parisian said.
And Clinard, who seems to know just about everyone in town, is the perfect person to talk to.
"It was heartbreaking to get the phone calls and people wondering where I was," Clinard said of the six weeks after Lucky Dogs closed down. "What's really interesting is the people that meander in here (at Scoop) and say, 'I knew you'd end up somewhere, but I didn't know where.' "
Josh McGlade is one of them. The 34-year-old is a self-described "huge fan" of Clinard's and dropped in Wednesday when he heard she is now at the ice cream shop.
"We have four kids and we're all (fans)," McGlade said. "We missed her."
Clinard and Parisian are being tight-lipped about when or if Clinard will take over ownership of the business. "I've still got my hands in the books," said Parisian, who owns the historic building that's also home to Central Cafe next door.
But it's clear Clinard's a perfect match.
"Her personality definitely fits the shop," Parisian said. "She's got a following."
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
