The scoop: New owners of ice cream shop aim to expand menu

A NEW COOL PLACE TO GO: Mayor Allan Fung officially welcomed Cecilias Ice Cream, located at 245 Phenix Ave. on June 22. On the ribbon line with the Mayor are (l-r) co-owners Ray and Amanda Lyons with their children, Cecilia, age 10 and Colton, age 8.
Ray Lyons, and his wife Amanda, are the new owners of the former West Side Scoop on Phoenix Avenue.
“We wanted to be in the community and work with the youth,” said Ray.
Cecilia’s is a family run business, named after his 10-year-old daughter. Lyons also has a younger 8-year-old son, Colton.
Ray and his wife named Cecilia after her grandmother. When they needed a name for the ice cream shop, they both instantly thought Cecilia’s.
Cecilia’s Ice Cream has more than 60 different hard or soft served flavors, and frozen yogurt. Lyons says his favorite flavor has to be the coffee toffee crunch frozen yogurt.
Lyons and his wife coached for the University of Rhode Island cheerleading team, so many of his former athletes work in his new business.
Lyons, who owns a Del’s Lemonade in Richmond, has plans to renovate the shop so it can seat 16 to 20 people at a time. Currently, they have three benches and tables available.
Lyons has also changed the hours of Cecilia’s to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends, and 3 to 10 p.m. on weekdays.
Lyons said he is interested in adding to the menu in the near future. They currently sell Allie’s Donuts for breakfast on the weekends.
“Everyone loves Allies. Sometimes we have them sell out in an hour, and other times in a couple hours,” said Lyons. “We’re hoping to have the famous Rhode Island Saugies, and chowder.”
Along with Rhode Island classics, Lyons plans to offer hot dogs, French fries, pretzels, and nachos.
“My wife and I both kind of thought it [Cecilia’s] was a good fit,” said Lyons.