Before opening Jack and Charlie’s 23 in June, owner Clark Reed began a yearlong search for the ice cream his shop would sell.
“Oh man, I drove in the pouring rain all over the place,” Reed said.
He discovered that what he was seeking was fewer than 20 miles away the entire time. The Hopewell native was impressed when he found Uncle Dave’s Homemade Ice Cream at Shady Brook Farm in Yardley, Pa.
“I’ve eaten a lot of ice cream all over the world, and the pistachio and the pumpkin are the two best flavors I’ve ever tasted,” Reed said. “And the toasted coconut.”
Jack and Charlie’s 23 offers a selection of 23 of Uncle Dave’s ice cream flavors at any given time. On one day in September, the choices included black raspberry, graham cracker, mint chocolate chip and vanilla fudge brownie. Butter pecan with no added sugar and low fat vanilla yogurt were also available.
But the appeal of the ice cream, which is made on location at Shady Brook Farm, goes beyond its flavors; Reed said that it reflects the culture of Hopewell.
“It fits the personality of the town. This is farmland, and Uncle Dave’s comes from Shady Brook Farm. And so I think people appreciate that,” he said.
The building that houses Jack and Charlie’s 23 is also deeply rooted in the local community. It was built in the 1800s, Reed said.
When choosing a theme for the interior, Reed decided on classic black and white checkered floors, accented with yellow paint on the walls. Music by the Beach Boys is often playing. This is another nod to the small-town feel of Hopewell Borough, which reminds Reed of 1950s culture.
There is also something about ice cream parlors that encourages a sense of community, he said.
“Ice cream is not like anything else. If you go into a restaurant, you’re not going to talk to people at the table next to you, at least not usually,” Reed said. “Ice cream is very communal. People sit out there on those benches and they talk. It’s interactive. It’s a social gathering place.”
Seating is available inside the shop, and on benches on the outdoor porch in front.
Sometimes, there are live musical performances on weekends.
“We have bands on the porch here, so it just makes it very interactive,” Reed said. “People like to walk the town.”
Jack and Charlie’s 23 also serves hot dogs with a variety of toppings and confections such as freshly baked cookies.
In the winter months, Reed plans to offer hot chocolate, coffee, hot pretzels and chocolate fondue, in addition to ice cream.
The shop also sells apple cider from Terhune Orchards in Lawrence and plans to sell hot pie from Terhune in the winter.
In addition to supporting local businesses, Jack and Charlie’s 23 collects donations for the St. Michael’s Farm Preserve in lieu of tips. It is another way of connecting with the local community.
The shop itself is named after two young Hopewell residents, Reed’s sons, Jack, 5, and Charlie, 2. Reed said he uses it as a learning experience for his sons. He considers them ambassadors for the business, and is teaching them the importance of greeting people and using good manners.
So, do the young ice cream ambassadors have any favorite flavors?
“Charlie likes soft serve, and Jack likes basically everything,” Reed said.
Jack and Charlie’s 23 is located at 23 East Broad Street in Hopewell. It is open seven days a week. More information is available on the shop’s Facebook page at facebook.com/jackcharlies23.
Clark Reed scoops ice cream at his new ice cream shop
