Big Expansion Planned at Ferndale Ice Cream Shop

Ferndale ice cream shop Treat Dreams is planning a major expansion that will extend their kitchen and dining room to accommodate the growing business.

Owner Scott Moloney says the $50,000 plan involves taking over the space next door, where PakMail is currently located.

Construction will start in mid-February and is expected to shut down the store for no more than three weeks.

Treat Dreams will double the size of its kitchen under the new plan - "which is huge for us because we're out of freezer space," Moloney said. It will also triple the size of its dining room.

The renovation includes new flooring and furniture.

"It's going to be a total makeover," he said. "I'm real excited to get this going."

The shop, located at 22965 Woodward, offers homemade ice creams with distinctive flavors ranging from Salted Caramel to Raspberry Chipotle Bacon.

Treat Dreams opened in August 2010 and is a "microcreamery," making its ice cream in small batches, with each flavor made six quarts at a time. Moloney also brings his custom creations to the streets, attending various food truck rallies each month.

To help out with the expansion, Moloney is hosting a indiegogo.com campaign where people can contribute to the project cost. He's hoping to raise $15,000, and a variety of rewards are offered based on the contribution amount.

Get more information about the expansion and the indiegogo.com campaign here.

The expanded kitchen will also allow for "Treat Dreams After Dark" - adult ice cream camps where groups of friends can come in after-hours to make their own ice cream. An expanded dessert menu is also planned.

PakMail owner Melissa McCaughhin said she had "no comment" on whether her store was moving to another location or closing.