"Coolest" Street is an Ice Cream Lovers Paradise

Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales has become one of the "coolest" places around with the opening of yet another ice cream parlor.

The Pink Flamingo is the third location where residents and visitors can grab a frozen treat. The new shop, located within the Arcade at 230 East Park Avenue, is the project of Lynette and Gene Hofferber.

Robert Connors

Lynette and Gene Hofferber preside over a display of cool treats in their new shop inside the Alcoma Arcade on East Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales. The shop is the third ice cream parlor to locate on the street,

The couple are recent arrivals, having moved to the city from Nebraska in the footsteps of their daughter, Brittany Gregg, who fell in love with the Arcade and the city. She had opened her photography studio in the historic building and encouraged her parents to open their new ice cream parlor directly across the hall.

Gene Hofferber described business as "real good," saying that a steady stream of customers have been stopping in to sample their 20 flavors of Hershey's ice cream. "We thought with the construction going on it might be worse, but we're really happy."

"We're going to be adding four more sugar-free varieties," Hofferber said.

"And lactose free!" Lynette added.

The couple also offer home-made candies and confections, including chocolate-covered caramels, several different truffles, turtles, and chocolate-covered orange peels.

"They've been really popular," Hofferber said, adding "you'd think they would be bitter, but she cooks them up, sautés them in a sugar sauce, and covers them with her brand of tempered chocolate, so they come out crisp and delicious."

Robert Connors

Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales is being transformed as part of a multi-million-dollar renovation effort seeking to turn the area into a shopping and dining destination.

The new shop comes in addition to Maggie Mae's Ice Cream Shack which opened last year at 125 East Park Avenue and features nitrogen-frozen ice cream made to order, and Kathryn's, a Christian bookstore at 205 East Park Avenue that offers multiple flavors of Blue Bell ice cream along with books and gifts.

As for the great choice and options, no one seems disappointed, "Each place has its own character," said downtown jeweler Briana Mayer. "Everybody is so nice and friendly. The Arcade has always been one of my favorite buildings, and it's good to see it having it's own flavor."

All three of the shops are located along the rapidly-transforming Park Avenue, which is undergoing an $11 million transformation into a shady magnet for shoppers and diners.