Local Flavor: All Good at All Good Things

Calling all candy fiends: a new sugar source has landed. 

Last Licks – the venerable sports memorabilia / ice cream joint in Scarsdale has been given a makeover. But instead of jettisoning the shop toward a sleek, plastic-coated, buzzy millennial niche, the store is being guided into a comfortable, soulful groove that evokes a simpler time.

“In its new incarnation, it’s called ‘All Good Things,’” the owner, Brian Levy, told Scarsdale Patch.  “I wanted to bring it back to its heyday. I remember going to the store when it was a straight-forward scoop shop. I grew up around the corner from the shop – it’s always been a part of my life.” 

Levy said that he bought the store from the previous owner about two weeks ago. In addition to being a loyal customer since he was old enough to grab a quarter, he worked at the store in its previous incarnation for more than a decade; he even met his wife of a year, Lisa, there. 

“I want to make it a funky, fun place for kids to hang out again,” Levy said, bemoaning the direction the store had gone in recent years. “It was sports memorabilia first, ice cream second. We’re revamping the interior completely. We are getting rid of the sports theme, repainting, getting cool new tables and chairs and an entirely different vibe décor-wise. We are also focusing on the ice cream – we’ve brought in a new line of amazing ice creams, frozen yogurt and candy.” 

All Good Things is also re-introducing “hundreds of different types of candy” to its offerings, Levy said. “We want All Good Things to be just that – all about the good things in life. I want to create a family-friendly Mom and Pop place in the center of town where kids are king. No purchase is too small and no customer is too young. Customer service is our priority again. The store was really flailing, but I want customers to know that it’s back.” 

Levy said he retained all of the employees from Last Licks and that they all share his enthusiasm for the store’s new direction. In addition to all of the aesthetic and taste bud-tinkering the Levy’s are doing, they’re throwing on a new playlist (soul, vintage rock n’ roll, “definitely some Grateful Dead”) and making sure they line the entire communities pockets with a bit of their proceeds.

“Every few months we’re going to pick a charity to partner with,” Levy said. “We will set up a profit-sharing weekend and the charities will not only be able to reach out to our customers with their message, they’ll be able to actually reap financial benefits too.”

 Levy is picking all of the partners he works with carefully.

He said that the new ice cream line he’s about to feature in the store -- Emack & Bolio’s – shares his hands-on, rootsy approach to embracing the sweeter aspects of existence.

“Emack & Bolio’s has some of the best ice cream on the market,” Levy said. “I wouldn’t serve it otherwise. But I also love carrying products like Emack & Bolio’s because they’re a company that stands behind their values. They walk the walk and put out a top-notch ice cream in the process.”

Emack & Bolio’s  was founded in Boston in 1975 by music-loving self-described hippie lawyers who turned the hobby of making homemade ice cream with wacky flavors in the wee hours of the morning after rock n’ roll jobs into a full time gig.

The company’s most popular flavors include Deep Purple Cow (black raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips and blueberries), Cosmic Crunch (vanilla ice cream, caramel swirl, chocolate chips, walnuts and cookies) and Coconut Almond Bar (coconut ice cream with almonds and chocolate flakes mixed in), but Levy’s favorite is their straight-up Strawberry, served in an old-school sugar cone.

The fully revamped store will be dusting off its new duds in the coming weeks; by Independence Day, it will be an entirely new place, Levy promised.

Until then, swing by and see the transformation in motion. Next up is a brand new display featuring dozens of kinds of Jelly Beans – and some M&Ms too.

 If you need a taste of All Good Things at home, try Brian Levy’s recipe for the Perfect Banana Split:

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop of vanilla (ice cream or yogurt)
• 1 scoop of chocolate (ice cream or yogurt)
• 1 banana, split in half
• 2 heaping dollops hot fudge
• 2 healthy squirts of whipped cream
• 2 cherries
• rainbow sprinkles

Method:

• Place the split banana, face up in a dish
• Top with scoops of vanilla and chocolate. Top each scoop with hot fudge, whipped cream, cherries and sprinkle.
• Eat and enjoy the Good Things

Visit All Good Things at 1074 Wilmot Rd. in Scarsdale, New York. The store can be reached at (914) 725-5932.