Alexandria could soon have a new place to grab a cone of soft serve.
Business partners Alex Yocum and Chase Dawson are looking to open “Swirley’s Soft Serve” in the old Campbell Fire Insurance building at 102 Washington St. The Alexandria Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a zone change needed for the shop to open on Tuesday.
Swirley’s Soft Serve already operates as a business via a mobile soft serve trailer that travels to events across the region, such as the Hyde Park Market and The Carnival at Kenwood Square.
Campbell County Planning and Zoning Principal Planner Kirk Hunter said an insurance agency had operated in the building for years, but more recently someone approached the city about putting a coffee roaster in the location. He said it was approved but never materialized.
“This particular location and North was zoned residential,” Hunter said. “To the South it’s ‘Old Town Business’ zone.”
While it is technically a residential zone, Hunter said the zone includes churches, a Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance building, a hardware store, etc.
“By extending the zone further north on Washington, it would not make the houses non-conforming, but it would offer them the ability to convert to something commercial,” he said.
The only question during public comment came from a resident on the street, who asked whether there would be ample parking for the business, given that on-street parking can be hard to come by.
Dawson said they have spoken with the church next door about sharing some of its parking. Yocum said there are four off-street parking spots next to their building and an additional six to eight spots owned by the church that they could potentially use.
“The way we have the model set up is not to have an elongated stay time in the physical building,” Yocum said. “Our model is to get people in, get people out.”
Yocum said that while ice cream will be the main source of business, they are also considering offering coffee and treats like cinnamon rolls, brownies, and cookies that pair well with ice cream. He said they do not intend to offer food.
Dawson said the hours of operation they anticipate will be 2 p.m. (for kids as they leave school) to 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.
Hunter said Swirley’s Soft Serve is targeting an opening date of next spring, in April or May.
