A “For lease” sign in a storefront window caught Jenn Landman’s eye when she returned to live in her hometown. With an education in business, two years of travel and experience as a marketing assistant in food services at the University of Waterloo, Landman was ready to establish herself in the business community. From a young age she desired to one day own a business. Landman took the plunge and watched as the space she rented transformed into an ice cream and coffee shop. After four months of renovations, with her husband working by her side, Landman opened à la mode ice cream and coffee shop in downtown Drayton on May 3, 2014. Kawartha hard ice cream, bagels and cream cheese, Belgian waffles, Anna Mae’s baking, soft serve ice cream, delicious coffee and ice cream cakes made up the bulk of the menu.
As a new business, à la mode’s, primary focus is to get established, build a positive image, let people know they are there and hope to attract return customers.
Customer service is important to Landman.
“We wouldn’t have a business without customers. My focus is on providing a great experience for everyone who enters the shop. Consistency in quality, customer service and cleanliness is a priority,” she said.
As a new business à la mode’s menu is changing to meet the customer’s needs. Determining what works and what doesn’t, takes time. One of Landman’s goals is to expand the menu and offer a more comfortable atmosphere for the winter. The business started small and hopes to expand slowly over time.
“For the winter season we have added light lunches, soup, sandwiches and paninis along with our regular menu items of bagels and fresh made Belgian waffles. Our store hours also have changed,” Landman said.
The new store hours are Monday to Thursday 6am to 4pm, Friday 6am to 5pm, Saturday 7:30am to 4pm and Sunday 11:30am to 4pm. Also new is free wi-fi for customers use.
Come spring, à la mode will reopen its patio and resume ice cream cone sales with freshly-made waffle cones, featuring Kawartha Dairy ice cream. Friendly service and great tasting food are staples at the shop, located at 21 Wellington Street South in downtown Drayton. The store’s phone number is 519-502-8325.
