Williamstown's Lickety Split Closes

By Phyllis McGuireSpecial to iBerkshires
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Residents craving ice cream were greeted with this sign in the window of Lickety Split since Nov. 1.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Rumors began flying this summer but now what the Williams College community and town folk dreaded has come. Lickety Split on Spring Street has closed.

The beloved ice cream shop closed its doors at the end of October but owner Robin Kanelos said she expects the restaurant to reopen in a new location. However, that location is still unknown after the Kanelos' lease expired.

Kanelos did not wish to expand further on the shop's closing but when contacted in September, she said she intended to return to Spring Street. She declined to reveal what steps, if any, she is taking in that direction nor would she say why she was not renewing her lease or if she had even been given an opportunity to do so. The building's owner, Mark Paresky, has not been available to comment.

Recently, Kanelos mentioned that Williams College is helping her find a space to reopen Lickety Space. The only available space on Spring Street as of this moment is 32 Spring St., which was occupied by McClelland's until 2009.  But rumor has it that something else may be opening up on the street.

Loyal patrons of  Lickety Split, the shop best known for its delicious ice cream, including the popular Purple Cow flavor, are more than disappointed that their supply has literally been cut off. One Williams student spoke of the closing of the shop as an "atrocity" and the wife of a faculty member has vowed not to patronize any other ice cream vendors on the street.


The Lickety Split location at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is still open.

In September, Kanelos made it clear that since she assumed ownership of the Williamstown Lickety Split eleven years ago, she has operated the business independently of Lickety Split at Mass MoCA.  

"My sister and her husband own the Lickety Split at Mass MoCA," she said.
 
Though mystery continues to shroud the fate of the cozy eatery that offered snacks, soups, sandwiches and salads as well as ice cream, iBerkshires will be sleuthing until it can report the opening of a re-incarnated Lickety Split.


*iBerkshires reporter Andy McKeever also contributed to this article.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

McKay's Family Farm Market Expands in Williamstown

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The greenhouse will be opening in the next couple weeks but pansies are available now. 
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — McKay's Family Farm Market recently expanded to offer more garden and feed options and local goods.
 
In October, the McKays took over the former Chenail's Farmstand on Simonds Road. McKay's Family Farm is located in Stamford, Vt., and raises cattle, sheep, horses and goats and grows a variety of vegetables. They have expanded into the shopping plaza near the greenhouse. 
 
"We took over growing mums and pumpkins and stuff, and then folks just kept coming in, asking for different things, and we just kept expanding our offerings," said Luke McKay. "And before long, we realized that half of the greenhouse was full of retail supplies and that we were growing so quick that we need to figure out what our next step was.
 
"The space became available, and we decided to make this our retail operation so that we could continue to have more space for plants and shrubs and trees and all the good stuff that we're gonna put in."
 
The family had noticed the building, part of the property with the farmstand, became available in December and decided to move in. He said customers were looking for a place to buy feed and to support locally.
 
"It was just a couple of bags of grain back in the fall when we opened up. And more and more folks said that they didn't want to go to box stores that they wanted to support a local business to be able to buy their feed for their animals or their pet foods and such," he said.
 
The store sells Nutrena Feeds and Blue Seal, garden supplies and stoves and pellets. It also offers goods from other local farms, whether it be eggs, meat, or more.
 
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