Kelsey Burres, owner of The Main Scoop in Clarion, wanted to make sure that her space felt all-American and classic. You cannot get more ‘all American’ than a woman-owned, family-operated ice cream shop on main street in a small town. At least that is what I thought until Kelsey shared that she and her husband, Jared, have been dating since the second grade! Jared has supported Kelsey in all of her business endeavors from selling leggings and crafting jewelry to a career in nursing. Kelsey has always been business minded. She felt working from home, raising her children, and keeping up with other family businesses did not keep her busy enough. She wanted to expand her opportunities and open a brick-and-mortar location.
“I love snacks and I love coffee but I do not like waking up early,” she tells me as we’re gathered in the back of her busy shop, surrounded by sweet-smelling waffle cone batter. After considering this she decided the ice cream business was for her, much to the delight of those in Wright County.
Kelsey and her husband grew up frequenting their local ice cream shop and wanted the children in their community to have that same opportunity. This was a driving factor when Kelsey opened The Main Scoop in Clarion. It is clear that when The Main Scoop was opened, the owner was considerate of the positive impact she could make on the community she loves so much. However, the pursuit of her dreams was not always easy.
The extensive remodeling of the building was obvious upon my first entrance and is a prime example of the hard work put into this new business. The walls are painted bright red with accents of black, a nod to the unofficial community colors of Clarion. Kelsey is passionate about supporting other small businesses. That is why the ice cream from The Main Scoop does not come from the back of a wholesale company truck.
The Burres family makes a weekly trip to Garner to pick up their ice cream from The Olde Creamery in Garner. All of the ice cream is homemade. The large vats are brought back to The Main Scoop and stored in one of many large deep freezers. Once the containers are empty they are washed and refilled, keeping things environmentally sound.
Kelsey wants other businesswomen in our area to, “Just do it!” She feels owning her own business allows her to have more time with her children. It was important to Kelsey to combine her family life and her work life. “I have to stay busy but I like to stay busy with them,” she stated while her daughter was held close and two of her three boys were laughing in the back office. It is obvious to me that this family is off to a great start. Visit The Main Scoop at 106 S Main in Clarion. Make sure to check out the bathroom while you’re there!
