The Whole Scoop, a popular travelling ice cream shop, has settled into its new summer home in St. Albert, aiming to become a beloved seasonal staple in the city.
Opening in late May at 165 Liberton Drive in the Salvation Army parking lot, The Whole Scoop offers over 35 flavors of hard ice cream from its distinctive little blue shack. This marks the fourth location for the business, founded by husband-and-wife team Cameron and Kirsten Schriever in 2017.
“We always wanted to build our own business in our yard,” said Kirsten Schriever, reflecting on the origins of The Whole Scoop, which began outside their home in Stony Plain. “When we would go on vacation or camping, one of our outings would be to find ice cream. But there was no dedicated ice cream store in Stony Plain, so we just quite literally built it in the front yard. And it really took off.”
The success of their first summer prompted Cameron Schriever to build mobile ice cream units, all painted a distinctive turquoise, which could be deployed to various locations around Edmonton. Since 2019, they’ve maintained a pop-up location in Spruce Grove and tested sites in Edmonton and Wabamun.
This summer marks The Whole Scoop’s first venture into St. Albert. Despite some less-than-ideal weather, Kirsten Schriever noted a positive reception from the community. “The weather hasn’t been great, but [last Tuesday], when we were open, everyone was super happy to have us here, and so I hope that continues,” she said.
With a commitment to simplicity, The Whole Scoop focuses on hard ice cream, aiming to provide an affordable family treat. The shop is known for offering popular and unique flavors not easily found in supermarkets. Bubble gum remains a perennial favorite, alongside other unique options like moon mist (a blend of banana, grape, and bubble gum) and moose tracks (vanilla with fudge and peanut butter cups). Traditional flavors like maple walnut are also available.
The Whole Scoop operates from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, weather permitting, and will remain in St. Albert until September. After the summer season, the little blue shack will return to its winter home in Stony Plain.
