Owner Tricia Davis standing outside of Scoops on First, along First Street in Downtown Fort Myers. -JEFFREY HRUNKA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Scoops on First has always been known for its freshly scooped ice cream sundaes and sweet treats, but owner Tricia Davis believes the ice cream parlor’s family atmosphere is what keeps driving people back. That family feel has extended to every employee who’s called Scoops on First a second home.

It’s all because of Davis’ involvement in her employees’ lives as both a mentor and a boss.

“Honestly, she’s kind of just like a second mom to me,” Odebralski said. “I work by myself during the days, and then, like she’s always helpful… if you need time off and like last minute, like she’s willing to help you because she understands life happens.”

Scoops on First started as an idea built from Davis’ stepdad and mother, Dave and Lori Large, looking for a sweet treat after lunch in Downtown Fort Myers, to no avail. They realized there wasn’t an ice cream shop in the heart of the city. After going for a walk, they found an open unit on First Street, decided to rent it out, starting an ice cream parlor as their retirement plan.

Employee Meagan Odebralski scoops fan-favorite flavor Insta Graham for customers. -JEFFREY HRUNKA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

The ice cream parlor opened in September of 2015 and has been a staple of the Southwest Florida community since.

“I couldn’t tell you the first time because I feel like, as long as I can remember, that ice cream place has been there, and as long as I’ve been going to downtown Fort Myers,” Fort Myers resident Emma Stevenson said. “It’s somehow been involved in my trips down there; most of my memories are just with friends.”

Davis ran the shop for nearly a decade before officially taking ownership in August of 2024. For her, it’s been the customers and the regulars she has seen grow up, that have made this endeavor worth it.

“I love all the customers and the regulars that you see come in the doors all through the season, and how so many people come in and just say they love, that we’re still here,” Davis said.

All guests are welcomed with the sights of 52 flavors of ice cream, sugar-free and dairy-free flavors. They also offer several alternative desserts in banana splits, smoothies, milkshakes and floats. For frequent visitors, no two flavors stay the same, as they are always offered with something new when they walk in.

This includes Scoops on First’s biggest event of the year, ‘Christmas in July,’ where they bring back several of their winter flavors for the summer.

“Those are our holiday flavors, which come back and everybody is excited for them,” Davis said. “Then before we know it, they’re back in two months because I’ll start getting them in September.”

Teaching future generations

For Davis, owning an ice cream parlor isn’t just about serving up a sweet treat. She’s using her business to provide future generations with a first step into the job market.

“(Davis) was like, ‘Well, let them come in, and give them a shot,’” employee Meagan Odebralski said. “We’re high school kids; we have the availability. It’s a great first job, and she loves to help support kids who are in the local school system.”

Customers can choose from 52 flavors of homemade ice cream. -JEFFREY HRUNKA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

A look inside Scoops on First, along First Street in Downtown Fort Myers. -JEFFREY HRUNKA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Not only does she provide them with a place to earn their first paycheck, but she also uses the position to teach them the ins and outs of what businesses look for in employees.

“When I first started working here, it really got me comfortable talking with customers. Even just asking them questions like ‘how their day is,’ basic questions about their night,” Odebralski said. “My future job, I work in the hospital, sometimes I can interact with patients and families on a more comfortable level, and then getting to deal with money and stuff like that is a lot easier.”

Davis emphasizes customer service, diligence and money management as the three crucial skills to learn. With customer relationships being the most important.

“Being very friendly with customers. That’s a huge, huge thing with us,” Davis said. “No matter. If they’re having a bad day or not, they’re not having a bad day. And scoops, you leave your life outside those doors.”

Even with a focus on developing a work ethic, she makes sure her employees put their education first, allowing them to do their homework during slow periods before busy hours.

Fan favorite flavor ‘Insta Graham’ with another scoop of butterscotch ice cream. -JEFFREY HRUNKA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

“School comes first, and then work. I have enough employees,” Davis said.

This direct and sincere understanding has not only made working there a delight, but has also driven employees to stay long-term and come back after graduating from college.

“I love that they stick around,” Davis said. “You make that bond with them… They come back (after college) and say, ‘Well, when I come back in November, will you hire me for the holidays, or will you bring me back? You always tell them, ‘Of course.’ You hate to lose help that you’ve had for you know, three plus years.

With the small amount of employee turnover, Davis has been able to take a step back in her teaching role, with many of the veteran employees playing a bigger role in mentoring the first-time employees.

“We mostly communicate through passing or the group chat that we use,” Odebralski said. “We can let people know, like ‘hey, this is what you need to do. You’ve done this wrong,’ like or anything like that… if I close with them, I can show them what to do, show them the ropes, and kind of get them comfortable with how we operate.”

Still, Davis makes sure employees are ready for the workday, especially ahead of the fast-approaching busy season.

“Don’t ever say that you’re falling behind because you have time, especially in the off-season,” Davis said. “There’s sometimes where we’re so busy you can’t [do homework]. So, it teaches them everything… when they leave for college and get another job, they text me. ‘Oh, I can’t handle it. This is horrible. I want to come back, you know.” And I said, ‘You don’t understand how flexible I am.’ I’m trying to teach them the way of life.”

This service is reflected in why customers keep coming back.

“It’s because it’s just right downtown and it’s easy,” North Fort Myers resident Gerry Bronersky said. “I know there are some other ones you know, but I like this one. Yeah, it’s always been good service.”

While running an ice cream shop has been a dream for Davis, the long-term future of the Scoops on First is unknown with the oversaturation of ice cream parlors becoming a problem for the shop.

Outside of Scoops on First, along First Street in Downtown Fort Myers. -JEFFREY HRUNKA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Customers lining up to be served at Scoops at First. -JEFFREY HRUNKA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

“As long as we can still provide great service and we can still keep going, but you bring in more people, ice cream stores,” Davis said. “That’s just more you’re taking away from, from, you know, your one and only mom and pop stops down there.”

However, it’s the support from the community that has kept Davis and Scoops on First around for the long haul.

“I love that they love us,” Davis said. “They’ll do anything, and they don’t even want anything in return. When the tips were stolen from me a couple of years back, the response from the community was unbelievable.”

In The KNOW:

WHAT: Scoops on First
WHEN:

Tuesday-Thursday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.,
Friday-Saturday: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday: 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE: 2250 First St., Fort Myers, FL 33901
MORE INFO: For more info, call (239) 226-0450

Scoops on First is a favorite for many who will come in and leave a memento for the staff. -JEFFREY HRUNKA / FLORIDA WEEKLY