SHADYSIDE — The beloved Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream will soon expand to Shadyside, sharing a space with a brand-new coffee shop, Coffee Central, in the same building. The dual shops will be located at the former Chase Bank site at 4001 Central Ave., offering both coffee and ice cream to the local community.
While the two businesses will operate separately, they will be housed under one roof. The ice cream shop’s hours will mirror those of the St. Clairsville location, operating from noon to 9 p.m. during the summer months. The operating hours for Coffee Central have yet to be finalized.
Mark Porterfield, the son of Kirke Porterfield and the driving force behind this expansion, plans to open Coffee Central this winter, with Kirke’s Ice Cream shop following in mid-March as warmer weather approaches. The location will also feature a convenient drive-through, utilizing the same setup previously used by Chase Bank. Even during the off-season, customers can still purchase Kirke’s ice cream by the gallon.
Porterfield expressed enthusiasm for bringing both ice cream and coffee to Shadyside, praising the village and its residents.
“Shadyside is a great village with great people,” said Porterfield. “I want to bring something special to this community.”
Porterfield shared how his passion for ice cream has grown in recent years and his desire to introduce Kirke’s products to a broader audience.
“The past couple of years, I really grew passionate about ice cream. Everything that I did was ice cream, and I’m the next generation of it. My goal is to show everybody and have them try our ice cream,” he said.
Initially, Mark will manage both shops by himself, but he hopes to bring in his brother, Doug Porterfield, to help once the business grows. The shops will focus on serving high-quality homemade ice cream and coffee, keeping the offerings simple. However, Porterfield noted that if food is eventually added to the menu, it would be light fare, similar to what is served at Starbucks—like coffee paired with muffins for those on the go.
“A big thing that we want to serve is smiles and joy,” Porterfield added, emphasizing his goal to create a welcoming atmosphere for the community.
He hopes the new shops will provide a place for the community to gather and foster a sense of togetherness.
Mark’s expansion to Shadyside is part of a larger plan to grow the Kirke’s brand. He credited local businessman Mike Derosa for helping make this opportunity possible. Derosa, a well-known figure in Shadyside, has been instrumental in bringing the project to life.
“Our goal is to add something new to Shadyside because the community could use something different, like a new coffee and ice cream shop,” Porterfield said.
In addition to providing delicious treats, Porterfield sees the shops as an opportunity to create jobs for local youth, especially high school students.
“I really want to grow this name and this brand,” he said. “This is my first shop, and it’s not the last.”
