Business Spotlight - September 2022
Greeting Friends and Neighbors:
As you may have heard, Riverworks Development Corp is hosting the 2nd Annual Beerline Shuffle on October 1st. The Beerline Shuffle is a one-of-kind 3-mile community walk meant to inspire residents to get active, get creative, and get engaged. Filled with music, art, activities, and more, this event requires the support and partnership of many local businesses and organizations. For the second year in a row, one of those fundamental relationships is with Scratch Ice Cream! In 2021, Scratch Ice Cream donated free scoops of ice cream for all registrants of the Beerline Shuffle, and this year this crowd-favorite stop along the route is back! Scratch Ice Cream is not only a generous supporter of Riverworks, and an active supporter of the neighborhood, but they are also a wonderful business with an inspiring story.
Read more about Scratch Ice Cream below...
Scratch Ice Cream
Scratch Ice Cream is a local company that offers hand crafted, small batch ice cream made with Wisconsin dairy products and fresh ingredients - and even offers a wide variety of vegan options!
Founder and entrepreneur, Ryan Povlick, began his journey to sobriety in 2013 and began working in his aunt and uncle’s yogurt shop, soaking up as much knowledge as possible so as to start his own business. As a true fanatic of ice cream, he began experimenting with different recipes. In 2015, with hard work and a vision, Scratch Ice Cream was born!
Originally only selling pints out of the family yogurt shop, Scratch soon expanded into grocery stores, eventually opening their own retail location at The Crossroads Collective in 2018. Since then, Scratch Ice Cream has maintained their first storefront, and has added a shop the Zocalo Food Truck Park as well as a Brookfield location. They are currently in seven different grocery chains including Cermak, Sentry, Sendik’s, Woodman’s, Beans & Barley, Outpost Natural Foods, and Riverwest Co-op Grocery & Café. Several years into the business, Ryan’s brother Justin joined on as a partner; Justin was fresh out of college and jumped at the chance to be part of his brother's business. This team of brothers, along with their amazing staff, pack hundreds of pints and gallons everyday to keep up with a growing demand.
Scratch Ice Cream is more than just an ice cream business for Ryan; not only did it give him purpose in life, but it has served as an inspirational story to others seeking sobriety or in active recovery. Scratch gives job opportunities and other resources to many in recovery. Ryan likes having people with similar mindsets and situations working at there; it also helps normalize recovery and provides a platform to share their stories.
Riverworks Development Corp has collaborated with Scratch Ice Cream since their humble beginning. Whether they were attending a vendor input session, or serving ice cream at an event, they’ve always been supportive and have brightened the day of many with their delicious scoops!
For more information, visit their website.