FLINT, MI – While it hasn’t been around for long, SoS Ice Cream inside the Flint Farmers’ Market already has captured the community’s attention.
Opened in July 2022, owners Karen DePottey and Anthony Irwin were wondering why there wasn’t an ice cream spot inside the market, located at 300 E. 1st St. in the city’s downtown area.
Friends for about four years after meeting at CenterPoint Church in Burton, both were already working for the market — DePottey working curbside and Irwin as a manager at Flint Food Works and performs maintenance duties.
“We just kind of ran with it,” DePottey said. “Everything just fell into place.”
But perhaps what the community does not realize is the path that DePottey and Irwin both took to reach this point.
Both are in recovery from alcoholism, with DePottey in recovery for 20 years and Irwin for approximately 10 years. Irwin is also in recovery from drug addiction.
“We are both active in recovery programs at our church and in the community,” DePottey said. “It’s important to give back and to let people know there is hope out there.”
Originally from Mt. Morris, Irwin’s life spiraled after he got married, divorced, and was not able to see his son as often as he liked. He lived at Carriage Town Ministries in 2014 in Flint for less than a year and went through an alcohol recovery program at Life Challenge Ministries, also in Flint.
“I knew I had a deeper sense that there was something better out there,” Irwin said. “In my wildest imagination, I couldn’t believe the things that God is doing in my life today.”
DePottey echoed his sentiments.
“This is not possible without God,” DePottey said. “We are miracles walking on a daily basis. The Flint Farmers’ Market is a family and when we win, everyone else wins.”
SoS Ice Cream, meaning Scoopful of Sweetness, offers hand dipped ice cream and shakes. They have dairy-free and low-sugar options, and a soft serve machine is on the horizon.
“We saw right away that this was going to be sustainable,” Irwin said. “We’re coming into our first full summer and we’re excited.”
Customers have the option of picking their own ice cream flavors from strawberry, chocolate, caramel, hot fudge, pineapple whipped topping and nuts.
The “Market Mini Cup” is a tasty choice, with one scoop of ice cream for $1.50 served in a cake cone.
Some people might only connect ice cream to the summer season, but SoS Ice Cream is open year-round, a rarity in the Flint area.
“A lot of those ice cream shops don’t have indoor seating and are just walk up to the window shops,” Irwin said. “We have a huge indoor atrium inside the market.”
When customers swing through the market and grab an ice cream, they will now understand each scoop of ice cream from Irwin and DePotter comes with deep meaning.
SoS Ice Cream is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Follow SoS Ice Cream on Facebook here.
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