Ice cream shop owners report that high temperatures don't boost sales; instead, they tend to slow down business. Customers opt to stay inside to avoid the heat, leading to decreased foot traffic. Delivery services are popular, with some customers choosing to have ice cream delivered. The ideal temperatures for customer turnout are in the 80s, particularly around Memorial Day, while extreme heat prompts people to stay home. Rain also dissuades ice cream purchases as it discourages customers from venturing out, compounded by concerns over traffic enforcement penalties.
"I don't think it's the product," says Brian Lowit, the owner of Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in Mount Pleasant. "People are just like, 'I'll stay cooler by staying in my house.'"
Charles Foreman, the owner of Everyday Sundae in Petworth, agrees: "I watch a lot of the wildlife shows," he says. "Everything tries to stand still when it's super hot."
Says Brandon Byrd, who owns Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats in Old Town: "Everyone assumes when it's scorching hot, it's good for the business. Nobody wants to go out and enjoy frozen custard when they're sweating profusely."
Temperatures in the 80s are the sweet spot, Byrd says, especially around Memorial Day when people are looking forward to summer. When summer lands hard, however, "people hibernate."
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