Tommy's Pizza Wants to Add Ice Cream, Yogurt Shop

The owners of Tommy's Pizza & Chicken are seeking to open a place to have dessert next door.

Rick Tompot and his wife, Holly, want to take over an empty storefront in the shopping center at Pearl and Drake roads to open Holly's Ice Cream and Yogurt.

The business would be open year-round and offer self-serve frozen treats and toppings, but with a twist on the fro-yo craze.

"Everyone is so stuck on frozen yogurt, they forget about ice cream," Rick Tompot said. 

Holly's will have six machines -- three with frozen yogurt and three with high-quality ice cream, he said.

The project was to go before the Strongsville Planning Commission Thursday night, seeking a conditional use permit to operate a restaurant in a general business district. 

The store would seat up to 48 people and occupy 1,668 square feet in the former Tutoring Club spot, directly next door to Tommy's.

Tompot said he believes the area is under-served with ice cream, especially with Honey Hut closing.

"We're hoping to draw people from the north part of Brunswick and the south side of Strongsville," he said.

He also wants to rev up commercial activity in the area.

"We want to bring new life to this plaza," he said. "There hasn't been anything new here, besides Family Video (which bought the plaza), in years."

Ideally, they'd like to open by Memorial Day, but if not, sometime in June. Tompot plans to start construction April 15.

After that, he believes the two businesses will offer a great option to customers, especially since Tommy's doesn't offer seating.

"You can pick up your Tommy's and take it over to Holly's, then have dessert," he said.