Make it a Double

eth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream on the Square in downtown Denton churns out homemade ice cream day in and day out the same way it has since opening its doors in November 1998. Thousands of faithful followers and scores of unique recipes later, Beth Marie’s is doubling more than ice cream scoops: They are doubling shops!

Beth Marie’s, named for original owner and manager Beth Marie Cox, is now officially a local chain with two locations in Denton. The original store is at 117 W. Hickory on the south side of the Square. The new store opened in May in the Unicorn Lake development, near the Cinemark Theater, at 2900 Wind River.

“Unicorn Lake is a family area with fountains, the movie theater, a jogging path around the lake, even a play area for the kids,” says co-owner Bob Moses. “It has all the elements of success for a second Beth Marie’s.”

Moses, along with Jim Engelbrecht and Ken Willis, forged a partnership in 2003 and purchased Beth Marie’s from the Cox family – name and all. The vision to grow the business and add locations is now a reality.

All of the ice cream produced at Beth Marie’s – more than 80 individual flavors – is homemade in a 1923 machine. The most popular flavors are always available. That includes the staples plus specialties like Peterbilt Crunch Ice Cream and Banana Pudding Ice Cream. Specialty flavors rotate in and out all year, providing a variety of tastes year round for repeat visitors.

Half the fun of Beth Marie’s is the place itself. The old-fashioned soda fountain bar, with its granite counter top and classic twirling stools, stretches the length of the east wall. A large mirrored cabinet is stocked with ice cream mugs, basins and boats. The giant chalkboard menu behind the bar touts each day’s featured flavors. The patient soda jerk gives flavor tastes on tiny spoons. With syrup? Maybe. Whipped cream and nuts? Sure! How about a cherry on top? Why not!

“The new Beth Marie’s is just as authentic as the store downtown,” Bob says. “It’s the same old-fashioned theme and the same genuine homemade ice cream. We’ve just doubled the pleasure.”

By Kim Phillips