Building the Valley: Pup-friendly ice cream joint has tongues and tails waggin’ in Vandergrift
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A beloved pet is the inspiration behind a new business venture in Vandergrift.
Vandergrift native and business owner Stephanie Crooks, 40, designed the logo for her ice cream shop, Scoops on Jackson, using the likeness of her late pup, Brody, who loved to eat ice cream.
“I made the logo after Brody,” Crooks said. “She died two years ago. She was 17.”
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Crooks of Penn Hills calls Scoops on Jackson, which opened May 31, her “side hustle.” It’s the latest in her portfolio of businesses.
Crooks is a landlord, with 22 rental properties in Vandergrift, and a full-time DJ. She owns a photo booth company and said she doesn’t sleep much.
“I love ice cream and this has been my dream,” Crooks said. “I just kind of made up all the recipes (for sundaes), and I looked at all the flavors and figured out what would be good with what.”
Scoops serves signature sundaes, floats, ice cream sandwiches and hard ice cream made by Perry’s Ice Cream, in Buffalo, N.Y.
Cookie dough, banana cream pie and red velvet are the top-selling flavors, Crooks said.
Scoops is in the former Lofti Softi building at 411 Jackson Ave., near Kennedy Park.
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“I just love seeing the smiles on the younger kids’ faces,” said Leah Kunkle, an employee at the shop. “Their eyes get big, and they sure love ice cream.”
Customers are welcome to bring their dogs to Scoops on Jackson and order them a pup cup for $1.
“After dinner is popular,” Crooks said. “Everyone wants the pup cup for their dogs. It’s a scoop of ice cream with little dog bones as a topping.”
Crooks graduated from Kiski Area High School in 2001 and visited Lofti Softi often.
“After the football games, going to Lofti Softi was a big thing,” Crooks said.
Lofti Softi was open from 1973 until 2011. Before that, the building housed a bread store and barbershop.
All of the specialty sundaes at Scoops on Jackson have a musically inspired name, such as “Ring of Fire,” “Holla Back Girl” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”
“My life is music as a DJ,” Crooks said.
Prices are $4 for a single scoop and $6 for a double. Look for weekly features of special flavors.
Ice cream toppings include Swedish Fish, Fruity Pebbles, frosted animal cookies, Oreos and gummy worms.
Crooks bought the building in 2021 but had to navigate borough permits, update the building to meet the fire code and secure an occupancy permit.
Scoops operates seasonally from April 15 through Nov. 15. Its hours are 4 to 9 p.m. daily.
“But if November is really warm, we can stay open longer and do all the pumpkin flavors and so on,” Crooks said.
Councilwoman Marilee Kessler said Scoops is the latest in several new additions to the business community in Vandergrift.
“This is a great addition to Vandergrift — especially in this location near Kennedy Park. Lots of activities and events happen here — people walking their dogs — and having this little oasis here with its excellent selection of good ice cream is very nice,” Kessler said.
For Crooks, owning and operating a sweet-themed business has its perks.
“It’s happy people. It’s more like my wedding business,” she said. “We’re here to celebrate sweet treats, and everyone is in a good mood. Hopefully, this will be my retirement.”